Newsletters
A fire broke out at a Wildberries logistics facility in Russia's Samara region on Sunday following a drone attack, the Russian e-commerce company said, the latest in a series of Ukrainian strikes on facilities belonging to the country's largest online retailer.
Wildberries said in a statement on Telegram: "Due to an attack on the company's logistics facility in the Samara region, a fire broke out. Firefighting teams are working at the scene. Preliminarily, there are no casualties. Logistics chains have been restructured, and the receipt of deliveries and shipment of orders are being carried out at other facilities."
"Dear residents of the Samara Region! The enemy attacked a Wildberries warehouse in our region using drones. Casualty information is being clarified. Emergency services are working on the scene. Do not assist the enemy! "Filming or distributing photos or videos of the aftermath of the attack, as well as air defense operations, is strictly prohibited," Samara regional Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev wrote on Telegram.
According to the Russian investigative outlet Astra, which is labeled as a "foreign agent" by Moscow, the strike hit the Wildberries "Novosemeikino" logistics complex, located in the settlement of Novosemeikino in Samara region's Krasnoyarsky district.
Astra reported the logistics complex covers approximately 178,600 square meters and is one of the company's key distribution hubs in the Volga region, supporting deliveries for the Samara region and neighboring areas as part of Wildberries' broader logistics network across central European Russia.
Residents of the Samara region reported hearing explosions on the morning of Aug. 2, and eyewitness footage showed smoke rising from the Wildberries warehouse at the Novosemeikino industrial park.
Separately, Wildberries CEO Tatyana Kim was added to the database of Myrotvorets, a Ukrainian website that compiles information on individuals it accuses of actions against Ukraine, according to RIA Novosti and RT, citing the site's listing.
The reports said Kim was accused on the site of "public support for Russia."
Astra reported that satellite imagery showed a large installation featuring a Russian flag and the symbols "Z" and "V," associated with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, located approximately 450 meters from the struck Wildberries warehouse, with the installation measuring roughly 80 by 40 meters, according to Astra's analysis.
Ukraine has recently conducted intensive strikes on facilities belonging to Wildberries, following earlier attacks this session's coverage has documented on the company's Tambov region and Elektrostal facilities.
Wildberries is Russia's largest online retailer, accounting for up to 10% of the country's total retail turnover.
The company operates tens of thousands of pickup locations across Russia, including in remote villages, and sells a wide range of products from medicine to children's goods.
Wildberries has been accused of helping Russians circumvent Western sanctions by importing branded goods via third-party countries since the war began in 2022, and the company says it processes more than 20 million transactions daily, playing a significant role in sustaining the Russian economy, with many small and medium-sized businesses relying on it to sell products.
Russian businesses have separately struggled with internet restrictions and tax increases imposed by the Kremlin, as well as fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian strikes.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
