Why Attacks on Wildberries Warehouses Are Militarily Significant

Although Wildberries is a civilian company, it has become a key channel for supplying Russian troops with equipment. An opposition journalist argues that due to shortcomings in state military logistics, many units rely on private purchases, volunteer aid, and crowdfunding—often facilitated by Wildberries.

Until recently, the platform featured a dedicated category "Everything for the Special Military Operation," with over 200,000 items including body armor, tactical helmets, and drone components. After the first strikes on its infrastructure, the category was removed, but the products remained available under other categories, some labeled "combat-tested."

The journalist emphasizes that attacks on warehouses are militarily logical because disrupting this informal supply system causes losses beyond the company itself—affecting warehouse workers, small sellers, and the broader economy. Additionally, the psychological impact is significant: millions of Russians use Wildberries, and after the destruction, social media flooded with videos of entrepreneurs complaining about lost goods, bringing the war closer to the Russian middle class.

Estimates indicate that Ukraine has destroyed about 8% of Wildberries' logistics capacity, with direct losses around $400 million and seller losses potentially reaching $2 billion. Russian state media have barely covered the attacks, while the Kremlin is reportedly considering financial support for the company.

The first strike occurred on July 18, and the latest on the night of July 29 in the Ryazan region.