TakeTack 见势

Your take on what's trending.

中文
Back to trends

World

Ukraine Drone Strikes on Wildberries Bring War Home to Russians

Ukrainian drone attacks on warehouses of Russia's largest online retailer Wildberries have killed eight people, destroyed goods worth up to $1 billion, and sparked outrage among Russian small-business owners. The strikes mark a shift in Ukraine's strategy to target logistics hubs, making the war feel closer to ordinary Russians.

TakeTack Desk 2 hr ago AI-assisted · Human reviewed
Ukraine Drone Strikes on Wildberries Bring War Home to Russians

Ukraine Drone Strikes on Wildberries Bring War Home to Russians

The short answer

Ukraine has launched a series of drone strikes on warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's biggest online retailer (often called 'Russia's Amazon'). The attacks hit facilities in Elektrostal, Kotovsk, Koledino, Krasnodar, Nevinnomyssk, and later in St. Petersburg and Crimea. Eight workers were killed, and goods worth an estimated £750 million ($1 billion) were destroyed. Ukraine says it targeted logistics hubs used to supply the Russian military, but the strikes have also devastated small businesses that rely on Wildberries. The attacks have sparked a social media backlash from Russian sellers who lost inventory, making the war feel closer to home.

Why it's trending

The drone strikes on Wildberries have gone viral on Russian social media, with small-business owners sharing emotional posts about losing their livelihoods. The attacks represent a new phase in Ukraine's campaign to disrupt Russia's economy and bring the war home to ordinary citizens.

Ukrainian drones have struck multiple warehouses of Russia's largest online retailer Wildberries in a series of attacks over several days, killing eight people and destroying goods worth up to $1 billion, according to BBC and CNN reports. The strikes hit facilities in Elektrostal, Kotovsk, Koledino, Krasnodar, Nevinnomyssk, and later in St. Petersburg and Crimea.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks were 'quite justly, bringing the war back home - to Russia,' per BBC. Kyiv stated it targeted 'major logistics facilities' used to 'supply sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment.' However, the strikes have also devastated hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses that depend on Wildberries for their livelihoods.

The attacks began with a weekend strike on two warehouses, followed by further strikes on Monday and Wednesday. On Friday, Ukrainian drone producer FirePoint claimed responsibility for hitting additional logistics hubs in St. Petersburg and Crimea, according to CNN. Wildberries confirmed evacuations and temporary suspensions at some facilities.

The strikes have sparked an online furor among Russian small-business owners, with one mother of a disabled child posting on social media that she lost 1 million roubles (£9,500). The attacks mark an escalation in Ukraine's economic warfare, which has previously targeted oil refineries, and bring the war closer to ordinary Russians.

Timeline

  1. First wave of strikes

    Ukrainian drones hit Wildberries warehouses in Elektrostal (Moscow region) and Kotovsk (Tambov region). Seven killed in Kotovsk, one in Elektrostal. Goods worth £750 million destroyed. (BBC, CNN)

  2. Second wave of strikes

    Another Wildberries warehouse hit in Koledino, south of Moscow. Further casualties reported by owner Tatiana Kim. (BBC)

  3. Third wave of strikes

    Drones hit Wildberries logistics hubs in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk (Stavropol region). State media in Voronezh region also reported a strike forcing warehouse closure. (BBC, CNN)

  4. Fourth wave of strikes

    Ukrainian drone producer FirePoint says FP-1 drones struck Wildberries hubs in Shushary (St. Petersburg), Utkina Zavod (Leningrad region), and Simferopol (Crimea). Wildberries confirms evacuations and suspensions. (CNN)

Questions people ask

Why is Ukraine targeting Wildberries?

Ukraine says it is targeting logistics hubs used to supply the Russian military, including components for drone production and navigation equipment. The strikes aim to disrupt Russian army supplies and bring the war home to ordinary Russians. (BBC)

How many people were killed in the drone strikes?

At least eight people were killed: seven in Kotovsk and one in Elektrostal, according to regional officials. Additional casualties were reported in later strikes. (BBC, CNN)

What has been the reaction among Russians?

The attacks have sparked outrage on social media among small-business owners who lost inventory. One mother of a disabled child posted about losing 1 million roubles. The strikes have made the war feel closer to home for many Russians. (BBC)

Join the conversation 0

Comments are reviewed before publishing.