On the morning of 29 July, Ukrainian drones attacked the Wildberries logistics centre in Ryazan, Russia. A major fire broke out on the premises of the warehouse complex: footage released shows open flames inside the building and a huge plume of black smoke.
Briefly about the main points
- A Wildberries logistics centre is on fire in Ryazan.
- The fire broke out following a drone attack.
- The fire engulfed part of the warehouse complex.
- A huge plume of black smoke rose above the factory.
- Details of the casualties and the extent of the damage are still being confirmed.
A Wildberries warehouse is burning down in Ryazan following a drone attack
Photographs from the scene of the strike show fires in several parts of the warehouse building. The roof and façade of the complex have been damaged, and a large cloud of thick smoke has formed above the site.
Governor of the Ryazan Region Pavlo Malkov confirmed a large-scale drone attack and the outbreak of a fire, but did not specify the exact target. Local Telegram channels and Ukrainian media have identified it as a logistics centre Wildberries. There have also been reports of a possible fire at the Ryazan oil refinery, although the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
There is currently no information regarding any fatalities or injuries at the logistics centre. Wildberries has not yet released a detailed assessment of the damage and loss of goods.
Previous attacks on Wildberries’ warehouses
The latest attack was as part of the campaign against the logistics network of Russia’s largest marketplace. The series of attacks began on 18 July with strikes on facilities in Kotovsk, Tambov Oblast, and Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast.
Subsequently, drones attacked the warehouses Wildberries in the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions, St Petersburg, the Leningrad Oblast and occupied Simferopol. In Yekaterinburg, the threat of an attack led to the evacuation of staff and the temporary closure of the logistics centre.
According to Reuters, since the start of the campaign, at least eight facilities providing over 10% of Wildberries’ logistics capacity have been hit. The company has announced that it will pay 40 million roubles in compensation to those affected and the families of the deceased. Reuters
Why are Ukrainian forces attacking the logistics network?
The Ukrainian side links the strikes to the use of Wildberries’ infrastructure to supply the Russian military, in particular the supply of equipment and components for drones. The company and the Kremlin deny any involvement in military logistics.
Following previous attacks, Wildberries has begun redistributing goods amongst its other warehouses. The Kremlin has stated that it is considering the possibility of state support for the company and its affiliated sellers, although no final decision has yet been made.
The damage to the centre in Ryazan is putting additional strain on Wildberries’ logistics network. If the warehouse is out of action for a prolonged period, this could lead to delivery delays, loss of stock and the need to reroute orders via other regions of Russia.
At least eight of the company’s warehouses have been destroyed in recent weeks.
