Serhiy Kuzan, head of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, told the BBC that Wildberry was a “key component” of Russian logistics and that Russian volunteers had used the Wildberry website to buy military equipment including walkie-talkies, body armor and drone parts.
“The primary reason for attacking the Wildberry warehouse is to disrupt Russian logistics and the supply of dual-use goods, critical electronics and sanctioned goods to the Russian military and Russian weapons manufacturers,” he said.
“The collateral damage from these strikes could not only have a serious impact on the Russian economy, but also have a psychological impact on Russian society, and perhaps even on continued support for the war.”
Russia has targeted similar facilities in Ukraine since the war began, including the postal service and some electronics distributors.
Wildberries CEO Tatyana Kim, one of Russia’s first female billionaires, said it was a “terrible night” for Russia and the company.
Tambov region governor Evgeniy Pervyshov said on Telegram that “seven night shift workers were killed on the spot” and that “28 drones were shot down on approach.”
He said 25 people were injured, including seven who were in serious condition. Most of these injuries were caused by shrapnel injuries, he said.
He said it was the “largest and most inhumane” attack on the Tambov region in terms of the number of drones used and the number of casualties.
Meanwhile, Moscow Governor Andrei Vorobyov said eight of those injured in the attack on Elektrostal’s Wildberry warehouse were in “serious condition.”
A total of 48 drones were shot down in the Moscow region overnight, he said, adding that Russian oil depots were also hit by downed drones. He described the incident as one with “the most serious consequences”.
“Firefighters, paramedics and the Department of Emergency Situations continue to work at the scene,” he wrote on Telegram. The extent of the damage was not specifically explained. Zelensky separately confirmed that Ukraine had attacked “oil facilities.”
Ukraine has recently stepped up long-range drone attacks on Russia’s critical energy infrastructure, causing widespread fuel shortages. Earlier this month, Kiev said about 43% of Russia’s oil refining capacity had been “disabled” as a result.
The BBC has not independently verified these figures.
Ukraine says Russian oil and gas facilities are legitimate targets because Moscow relies heavily on fossil fuel exports to fund a full-scale invasion that began in February 2022.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare admission last month that attacks in Ukraine had caused fuel shortages, and signed legislation in early July to increase supplies to the domestic fuel market.
