Wildberries founder and CEO Meduza has publicly denounced ongoing drone strikes targeting the online retailer’s logistics infrastructure, labeling the assaults as terrorist attacks. In a video shared on her Telegram channel on July 31, Kim addressed sellers, customers, and the broader business community following two weeks of sustained aerial attacks on company facilities.
Wildberries Founder Denounces Warehouse Attacks and Addresses Seller Losses
The online retailer, often described as Russia’s answer to Amazon, operates as a massive marketplace serving millions of users across 10 countries. According to Russian officials, the aerial campaign involved strikes on two sprawling company warehouses: one located in Kotovsk in the Tambov region, roughly 360 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, and another in Elektrostal, approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow. The attacks sparked fires, disrupted operations, and prompted responses from both regional authorities and federal officials.
Casualties, Facility Damage, and Differing Claims
The weekend strikes resulted in multiple casualties and significant property damage. Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported that 61 people were wounded in the Moscow region alone, with 40 individuals hospitalized, 20 seeking outpatient care, and one person succumbing to their injuries. Additional casualties were reported across other affected zones.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a Telegram post that the targeted sites were significant logistical facilities in the Moscow and Tambov regions
and claimed they were utilized to supply sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Ukraine’s accusations that Wildberries handles military supplies. Turkish retailer Koton Magazacilik confirmed that a portion of its inventory was affected by the damage inflicted on the Wildberries sites.
Company Response, Fire Safety, and Legal Stance
Addressing the security measures in place, Kim noted that Wildberries upgrades its protection systems daily and successfully repels the majority of incoming threats despite escalating firepower used by attackers. She cited the Yekaterinburg warehouse incident as an example, where parking lot vehicles caught fire amid more than 200 incoming fixed-wing drones. She added that the company’s Fire Safety Service is led by a former Emergency Situations Ministry officer with over 26 years of firefighting experience, helping maintain safety and contain blazes.
Regarding financial fallout, Kim asserted that the attacks constitute force majeure, meaning that under the law, resulting losses are not subject to compensation regardless of offer agreement clauses. She warned sellers to beware of internet fraudsters and lawyers attempting to profit from the situation, urging partners to rely solely on official company communications and the state.
Government Support and Financial Assistance for Sellers
As the retailer works to rebuild its logistics infrastructure and redistribute product flows across alternative facilities, federal authorities and company leadership are coordinating relief efforts. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak noted that sales on digital platforms account for roughly 8.5% of GDP, underscoring the critical role digital marketplaces play in the broader economy. Online sales across Russia reached 11.5 trillion roubles ($147 billion) in 2025, according to the Association of Internet Trade Companies.
Kim announced that Wildberries has acted as a conduit for small and medium-sized businesses, discussing a comprehensive federal support system with the government that will be announced in the coming days. In the interim, the company has already issued two tranches of support payments to sellers whose goods sustained damage during the warehouse strikes.
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