Post by : Badri Ariffin

MOSCOW: Russian e-commerce platform Wildberries announced that its warehouses were once again targeted by Ukrainian drone strikes. This marks a significant expansion of attacks aimed at disrupting Russia's logistical capabilities and economic stability.

The recent drone strikes hit facilities located in St. Petersburg, the broader Leningrad region, and Simferopol, the primary city in Crimea that is under Russian control. Tatyana Kim, the founder of Wildberries and Russia's richest woman, provided details regarding the incidents.

Footage from Reuters captured substantial smoke plumes ascending into the atmosphere following the strikes in St. Petersburg and its vicinity.

Despite the damage, Kim assured that some areas of the warehouses and inventory were protected. She expressed gratitude to the staff for their swift evacuation efforts, stating, "We managed to save part of the premises and goods. Thankfully, there were no reports of injuries so far."

She highlighted that the company’s immediate focus now is on restructuring its logistics operations. "Our main priority is to redistribute inventory across our warehouses to ensure optimal stock management and maintain economic resilience for our partners," she noted.

These attacks occurred shortly after the European Union imposed sanctions on Wildberries' banking sector due to its fiscal contributions to the Russian economy.

Wildberries plays a crucial role in Russia's consumer landscape and is frequently likened to Amazon. The attacks are part of Ukraine's broader strategy to place pressure on Russia by targeting critical economic infrastructure.

Fourth Assault Since Last Weekend

This incident marks the fourth assault on Wildberries facilities since the previous weekend. Such disruptions may lead to considerable losses for businesses relying on the platform and could impact consumer access to essential goods like clothing, appliances, medicine, and cosmetics.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has labeled the attacked warehouses as logistical hubs supplying Russian forces with drone parts and necessary equipment.

The Kremlin refutes claims of Wildberries’ involvement in military supply chains. Kim has accused Ukraine of targeting civilians engaged in regular work activities.

Since July 18, a total of eight Wildberries warehouses have faced attacks, representing over 10% of its logistics capacity. The initial strike on July 18 resulted in the tragic death of eight staff members.

While enduring these assaults, Kim emphasized that Wildberries is committed to providing uninterrupted service.

Deliveries Persist Despite Challenges

Orders from Reuters journalists on Wildberries since the prior weekend yielded varying results. Some were delivered either fully or mostly on schedule, while others remain pending.

In typical circumstances, Wildberries can manage over 20 million orders daily.

Together with smaller competitors and major rival Ozon, Wildberries contributes to goods and services worth about 8.5% of Russia's GDP, employing approximately 4 million individuals, which is over 5% of the country’s workforce.

Throughout the ongoing conflict, Russia has also targeted Ukraine's supply chains and energy infrastructure.

#Russian news #Ukraine News #Global Updates #World News