“No One Ordered This: Ukrainian Drones Reportedly Target Wildberries”

Ukrainian drones have reportedly struck warehouses belonging to Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries, for the second time in four days, with Russian media and a regional governor saying that 10 people were injured in the latest attacks. The reported overnight strikes targeted logistics facilities in the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions, according to Russian officials and the company's owner. The attacks reportedly forced workers to evacuate the affected sites. Second Reported Attack in Four Days The latest incident follows strikes reported on Saturday against Wildberries warehouses in Tambov and Elektrostal. Russian authorities said those attacks killed eight people and injured 62 others. The repeated targeting of the company's facilities has raised questions about whether the warehouses are being viewed by Ukraine as part of Russia's wider military supply network. Kyiv has previously alleged that some Wildberries facilities and logistics networks have been used to support the production of Russian drones and navigation equipment. However, claims about the military use of specific facilities have not been independently verified. Wildberries Owner Condemns Attacks Wildberries owner Tatyana Kim condemned the reported strikes and expressed concern for employees affected by the attacks. She said the incidents had caused deep emotions among workers and those associated with the company, while insisting that the business would continue its operations and focus on serving customers. The reported attacks have also highlighted the risks faced by civilian workers and commercial businesses as the Russia-Ukraine conflict increasingly extends beyond the traditional battlefield. Ukraine Points to Military Supply Links Ukrainian officials and security experts have argued that the strikes are aimed at disrupting Russia's logistics and supply chains. Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, previously told the BBC that Wildberries' platform had allegedly been used by Russian volunteers to purchase military equipment. He argued that the reported strikes were intended to disrupt the movement of dual-use goods, electronics and other supplies that could potentially reach Russia's military and defence industry. At the same time, attacks on commercial facilities can carry significant risks for civilians, particularly when warehouses and logistics hubs employ large numbers of workers. Wider Economic and Psychological Impact The repeated strikes could have consequences beyond the immediate physical damage. Disruptions to major logistics networks can affect supply chains, businesses and employees, while repeated attacks may also contribute to growing uncertainty among the wider population. Kuzan has argued that such attacks could potentially affect the Russian economy and influence public perceptions of the ongoing war. However, the longer-term economic and social impact remains difficult to assess. The latest reported strikes underline how the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to evolve, with drones increasingly being used to target infrastructure and logistics networks far from the front lines. As both sides continue to accuse each other of attacks and military escalation, independent verification of individual incidents remains challenging. Further investigations will be needed to establish the exact circumstances of the reported strikes, the nature of the facilities involved and the extent of the damage.