Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Russian E-Commerce Giants Force Workers and Sellers to Absorb Massive Losses

Key points

• Ukraine launched 49 attacks on 36 warehouse sites belonging to Wildberries and Ozon between July 18 and September 24, 2026, according to IBC Global.
• Wildberries and Ozon employ over 350 logistics facilities across more than 20 Russian regions, offering salaries of 125,000 to 126,000 rubles monthly, significantly higher than the regional average.
• Warehouse workers report continued operations during air raid alerts, with some facilities lacking designated shelters, leading to chaotic evacuations and at least eight deaths in the initial strikes.
• Sellers have reported losses exceeding 335 million rubles, with Wildberries offering only promotional bonuses and preferential loans rather than direct cash compensation for destroyed goods.
• The Russian Finance Ministry proposed tax breaks for companies defending facilities, while the RUIE urged the state to insure military risks, as private insurance markets cannot absorb the liability.

Background

This escalation follows a broader 2026 campaign where Ukrainian drones targeted Russian energy infrastructure and Arctic gas facilities, causing fuel shortages and supply chain disruptions. Earlier in the year, strikes on refineries reduced Russian refining capacity to 60%, while attacks on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium affected Kazakhstan’s oil exports. The current focus on e-commerce logistics represents a shift toward targeting civilian economic nodes that support the Russian war effort, as Wildberries was previously linked to military supply chains.

How outlets are covering it

Meduza and Bereg emphasize the human cost, detailing how workers accept high risks for superior pay and how sellers face financial ruin due to inadequate corporate support. In contrast, BISI highlights the state’s strategic shift, noting that the Kremlin is forcing private companies to fund their own defense through tax incentives and regulatory pressure. www1.ru focuses on the legislative gap, with the RUIE arguing that 'military risks' are undefined in insurance law and require state-backed reinsurance. While Meduza notes that some workers view the strikes as justified due to Wildberries' alleged military ties, BISI points out that Russian allies like Kazakhstan are unlikely to pivot from neutrality despite fuel shortages, indicating limited geopolitical fallout from the e-commerce strikes.

Why it matters

The strikes expose the fragility of Russia’s digital economy and the limits of state protection for private infrastructure. As Wildberries and Ozon account for a significant portion of Russian retail, their disruption affects millions of consumers and entrepreneurs across the CIS. The government’s refusal to provide direct compensation, instead relying on tax breaks and private insurance, signals a broader strategy to privatize the costs of wartime damage, potentially leading to increased unemployment and business closures in the logistics sector.

What to watch

Expect continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian logistics hubs, as air defenses remain unable to shield vast industrial empires. The Russian government may expand the definition of 'critical infrastructure' to include shopping malls and other commercial facilities, increasing regulatory pressure on private companies to invest in anti-drone measures. Sellers may further shift to self-fulfillment models or exit the Russian market, while the state may introduce stricter penalties for companies failing to protect their assets.