Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries seeks warehouse space in Kazakhstan after Ukrainian drone strikes on logistics centers

Wildberries is searching for warehouse space in Kazakhstan as Ukrainian drone strikes hit the marketplace’s logistics centers in Russia, the Russian business daily Kommersant reported, citing four sources in the real estate market. The company wants to shield part of its capacity from the strikes, the sources said.

One source told the paper Wildberries is seeking 100,000 square meters of space. Another source said the company is ready to take every available warehouse in Kazakhstan.

The press service of the joint Russ/Wildberries group (RWB) stated that the company is carrying out scheduled construction of logistics facilities in the countries where it operates, with some due for completion soon. In Almaty, it is building a facility of more than 100,000 square meters, and in Astana, another spanning 160,000 square meters. The company added that its organizational efforts are currently focused on redistributing goods among its various warehouses.

Experts polled by Kommersant said Wildberries may struggle to find a facility in Kazakhstan, where available warehouse space is scarce.

The paper’s real estate sources said Wildberries continues to search for new warehouses in Russia, but that owners of available space there are currently unwilling to sign new lease agreements with the company because of the risk of drone attacks.

Since July 18, Ukraine has been striking Wildberries’ logistics centers and warehouses. Drone attacks have already hit warehouses in the Moscow region, Tambov region, Krasnodar, Stavropol region, Leningrad region and St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Ryazan, as well as in occupied Crimea.