Ukraine conducts drone strikes on Wildberries warehouses in Russia

Ukrainian drones struck two Wildberries warehouses in the Ryazan region on Thursday, igniting fires at both sites, according to the company and a regional official. The attacks are part of a series that began on July 18, with about a dozen Wildberries locations targeted in an effort to disrupt the retailer's operations, which Kyiv alleges aid Russia's military.

Data Insight analyst Sergei Semko estimated that goods destroyed in strikes on Wildberries facilities in Moscow and Tambov regions alone could be valued at up to $2.9 billion. The company said on Telegram that it had provided a second tranche of financial assistance to nearly 100,000 sellers whose inventory was damaged.

Wildberries, Russia's largest online marketplace, operates an extensive network of warehouses and logistics hubs across the country. Ukrainian officials claim the company's storage and transport network moves goods that support the Russian armed forces, a charge Moscow denies. An executive from Ukrainian arms producer Fire Point, Denys Shtilerman, said Wildberries' partnership with state-controlled VTB Bank makes it a strategic target, adding that the retailer is the largest borrower in Russia and its loss could affect multiple banks.

The Kremlin has acknowledged that the strikes have reduced Wildberries' warehousing capacity by about 10 percent and caused significant stock losses, prompting discussions about possible state support for the company. The attacks coincide with broader economic pressure on Russia, including a U.S. Senate vote on a sanctions package aimed at curbing purchases of Russian energy exports.