Ukraine Expands Long-Range Strikes to Russian Retail Giant’s Warehouses, Alongside Oil Campaign
Kyiv has expanded its long-range strike operations deep within Russian territory, now targeting warehouses belonging to the major Russian retail company Wildberries. This new front in Ukraine’s deep strike campaign runs concurrently with its ongoing efforts against Russia’s vital oil infrastructure, according to insights from a Western official.
Responding to inquiries about recent air attacks and Ukraine’s capabilities, a Western official indicated a marked increase in the effectiveness of Ukrainian deep strikes. This effectiveness is attributed to improvements in “range, volume, and expanded target sets,” with the recent strikes on Wildberries warehouses cited as a prime example over the past two weeks. The official further highlighted Russia’s apparent struggle to defend against these assaults, describing it as “notable” given the “relative paucity in air defence” when weighed against the escalating number of sites Russia is now compelled to protect. This campaign, the official suggested, carries both military and significant political implications, asserting that it is “starting to bring the war home to the average Russian.”
The targeting of Wildberries facilities commenced in mid-July. Initial reports on July 18 detailed strikes against sites in Elektrostal, near Moscow, and in Tambov Oblast. The Moscow Times reported that eight workers were killed in these weekend attacks, with Russian industry experts estimating the cost of restoring the damaged facilities could reach 35.8 billion rubles, approximately $457 million. Subsequent strikes impacted logistics hubs in Krasnodar and other southern regions of Russia, followed by attacks on warehouses in and around St. Petersburg, and also in Simferopol, located in occupied Crimea.
Within a week, seven Wildberries warehouses had reportedly been hit, according to The Kyiv Independent, with Russian outlet Kommersant estimating that around 10% of the company’s logistics hubs had sustained damage by July 23. NPR reported at least nine worker fatalities across these incidents, including several migrant workers from Central Asia. Small Russian businesses, which rely on Wildberries for inventory storage and distribution, have also reported substantial losses of stock held in the destroyed facilities.
Regarding the strategic rationale behind this shift to retail warehousing, a Western official referenced Ukraine’s stated justification. The official explained that “Wildberries has a role in the supply chain and military industrial complex, and that’s the logic behind their attacks,” while acknowledging the strikes also generate “a sort of big PR impact.” As “a sort of big systemic company in the Russian market,” the official added, Wildberries “probably has an outsized economic impact too.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has publicly stated that these strikes specifically target logistics centers involved in supplying the Russian army with vital components such as drone parts and navigation equipment. He also framed these actions as a direct response to Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, an apparent reference to earlier strikes on facilities belonging to Ukraine’s own postal and logistics company, Nova Poshta, in cities like Odesa and Mykolaiv, as reported by The Moscow Times.
Wildberries, founded in 2004, stands as Russia’s largest online retailer, frequently drawing comparisons to Amazon. Estimates cited by The Kyiv Independent suggest the company controls close to half of Russia’s online retail market. It operates an extensive network comprising over 200 warehouses and logistics centers throughout Russia, and its founder, Tatyana Kim, holds the distinction of being Russia’s wealthiest woman. Reports from Forbes and NBC News indicate that Kim has confirmed the company’s insurance policies do not cover drone strikes, and that efforts are underway to redistribute goods across operational warehouses to maintain delivery services.
A Western official emphasized that this new targeting strategy does not detract from existing campaigns, stating, “It’s not either or, so it’s not binary. The targeting of the oil system continues. It’s just this is an additional target set which has been prosecuted at the same time.” Ukraine’s long-range campaign within Russia has steadily increased in both reach and frequency since 2023, with prominent targets previously including oil refineries, fuel depots, airfields, and defence manufacturing plants.
Why This Matters
The expansion of Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign to include major Russian civilian logistics infrastructure, such as Wildberries warehouses, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict and carries multifaceted implications for both sides and the broader international landscape.
Escalation and Geographic Reach:This development demonstrates Ukraine’s growing capability and willingness to project force deeper into Russian territory, targeting assets beyond traditional military installations or critical energy infrastructure. It signals an evolving strategy aimed at disrupting Russia’s domestic economy and supply chains, directly impacting civilian life and commerce. The inclusion of sites in major cities like St. Petersburg and the Moscow region underscores this expanded reach and the challenge it poses to Russian air defenses.
Economic Impact and Civilian Life:Wildberries is Russia’s largest online retailer, an integral part of daily life for millions of Russians. Disrupting its operations, destroying warehouses, and causing significant financial losses (hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, plus lost inventory for small businesses) directly affects the Russian economy and consumer access to goods. This tactic aligns with Ukraine’s stated goal of “bringing the war home” to the average Russian, potentially eroding public morale and increasing pressure on the Kremlin to end the conflict.
Military Strategy and Dual-Use Targeting:Ukraine’s justification that these logistics centers are involved in supplying the Russian military with components like drone parts highlights a strategic shift towards targeting what it considers “dual-use” infrastructure. While these facilities serve civilian purposes, Ukraine argues they also contribute to the Russian military-industrial complex. This raises complex questions about the distinction between civilian and military targets in modern warfare and sets a precedent for future engagements.
Challenges for Russian Defenses:The reported difficulty of Russia’s air defenses in countering these widespread strikes, despite a perceived “paucity” of air defense assets relative to the vast number of potential targets, indicates a potential vulnerability. If Ukraine can consistently overwhelm or bypass these defenses, it could lead to further disruptions and compel Russia to divert more resources to homeland defense, potentially impacting its offensive capabilities on the front lines.
International Perception and Precedent:While Ukraine frames these strikes as a defensive response to Russia’s own attacks on civilian infrastructure, the targeting of a major civilian retailer could elicit mixed reactions internationally. However, many analysts might view it through the lens of asymmetric warfare, where a weaker party seeks to leverage its limited capabilities to inflict maximum strategic pain on a stronger aggressor, particularly when the aggressor has extensively targeted civilian infrastructure within Ukraine.
Future Trajectory of the Conflict:This expansion suggests a potential new phase in the war, where economic and psychological pressure on the Russian populace becomes a more explicit strategic objective for Ukraine. It implies that Kyiv believes such tactics can contribute to weakening Russia’s war effort and potentially influence the Kremlin’s decision-making regarding the conflict.