Ukraine strike on Wildberries warehouses: eight dead, over 50 billion rubles in damage; sellers face uncertain compensation

Ukraine's overnight strike on Russia's largest online retailer Wildberries killed eight people and injured over 50. The attack targeted two major logistics facilities: one in Elektrostal, Moscow region, and another in Kotovsk, Tambov region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated the strike was retaliation for Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure, particularly the Nova Poshta postal service. He also said the warehouses contained components for drone and navigation equipment supplied in violation of sanctions.

The Elektrostal warehouse is Wildberries' largest logistics center, covering over 360,000 square meters. As of November 2023, it employed more than 8,000 workers. The Kotovsk warehouse, opened in late May 2025, can store up to 54 million items. The fire destroyed thousands of sellers' goods, with preliminary damage estimates exceeding 50 billion rubles. Up to 15% of Wildberries' total warehouse space was affected.

Wildberries CEO Tatyana Kim expressed condolences and promised support for the victims' families, opening an online chat line for relatives. However, she did not address seller compensation. In early July, Wildberries added a clause to its seller agreement exempting the company from liability in case of a drone attack, effective July 7 – 11 days before the strike. Later, Kim stated the company is not obligated to compensate but is determining payment amounts for sellers. Families of the deceased will receive 2 million rubles, and the seriously injured 1 million.

Sellers have expressed outrage on social media over their financial losses, many unaware they would not be compensated. "Today, not only goods burned. Another illusion burned – that someone would protect entrepreneurs," wrote Natalya Plonke, founder of eskin touch. Other sellers described losses of millions of rubles that may never be compensated.