A series of strikes on Wildberries’ logistics centres has spread to Russian regions and the temporarily occupied Crimea. Fires broke out on the night of 24 July near St Petersburg, in Tver and in Simferopol. Russian media report that the area of the facilities affected by the strikes may have reached 802,000 square metres, with potential losses to retailers estimated at approximately 250 billion roubles.
Briefly about the main points
- The strikes hit Wildberries’ logistics facilities in several regions of Russia and Crimea.
- The area of the affected complexes may have reached 802,000 square metres.
- Data Insight has estimated the potential losses to retailers at 250 billion roubles.
- An exception relating to wartime circumstances has been added to the Wildberries contract.
- The first reports of damage to Ozon’s warehouses emerged on 24 July.
The geographical scope of the attacks has expanded
Among the first major sites to suffer significant damage were Wildberries logistics centres in Elektrostal in the Moscow Region and Kotovsk in the Tambov Region. Reports subsequently emerged of strikes on facilities in Krasnodar, Nevinnomyssk, the Voronezh Region and other regions.
On the night of 24 July fires The fires broke out at sites near St Petersburg, in Tver and in occupied Simferopol. A large plume of smoke was spotted above the «Utkina Zavod» logistics park in Novosaratovka, where one of Wildberries’ largest warehouses, covering an area of around 170,000 square metres, is located.
According to estimates published by the Russian media, the total area of the affected facilities could have been 802,000 square metres, or approximately 14% of the marketplace’s logistics capacity. An earlier estimate by Reuters — 552,000 square metres, or 10% of the network — did not take the latest attacks into account.
The goods in the warehouses belong mainly to business owners
Wildberries stocks products from hundreds of thousands of sellers on its platforms: clothing, electronics, cosmetics, household appliances and other goods. A significant proportion of this stock is owned not by the marketplace itself, but by small and medium-sized businesses.
Data Insight has preliminarily estimated the potential losses to retailers at 250 billion roubles. This calculation is based on the assumption that the affected warehouses were full and that most of the goods have been destroyed. The final figure will be determined once an inventory has been carried out at each facility.
For small businesses, a loss of stock means both a loss of revenue and ongoing costs — such as loans, taxes, rent and wages. This can lead to a shortfall in working capital and, for some retailers, the risk of bankruptcy.
The terms of reimbursement remain unclear
In early July, Wildberries amended its contract with sellers. The new clause allows the company not to compensate for the loss of or damage to goods resulting from drone attacks, the use of military equipment and other circumstances related to the war.
Following the first major fires, the marketplace announced its intention to support the affected businesses. At the same time, sellers point to the lack of a clear mechanism for assessing losses and guarantees of full compensation.
Uncertainty is forcing businesses to review their logistics: to distribute stock across several warehouses or to consider switching to their competitor, Ozon. However, on 24 July, the first reports also emerged of Damage to Ozon’s warehouse facilities, so changing the platform does not guarantee that the goods will be preserved.
The consequences of the war are being felt in the Russian consumer sector
In the Ukrainian media, the losses suffered by Russian retailers are described as a symmetrical response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian businesses, warehouses, shopping centres and logistics infrastructure. The assertion that Russian society bears responsibility due to its silence regarding the war is a political and moral judgement.
The Ukrainian side also cites the possible use of the marketplaces’ logistics infrastructure to supply military equipment and components as one of the justifications for the strikes. Wildberries and the Russian authorities deny this.
Wildberries controls more than half of the Russian online retail market and processes millions of orders every day. Therefore, disruption to the warehouse network could affect not only the company itself, but also sellers, warehouse staff, carriers and customers — due to lost goods and delayed orders.
