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Russian online retailer Wildberries seeks new warehouses in Kazakhstan as Ukrainian drone strikes disrupt Russian logistics hubs
The Wildberries-Russ Group (RWB), which operates the Wildberries online marketplace, is searching for additional warehouse space in Kazakhstan. This move comes in response to ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks targeting logistics hubs in Russia and Russian-annexed Crimea, reports Kommersant, citing four industry sources.
One source told the outlet that the company is seeking locations totaling around 100,000 square meters. Another source noted that Wildberries is "prepared to take all available warehouses in Kazakhstan, given the overall limited supply in the region."
A spokesperson for RWB told reporters that Wildberries is carrying out routine construction of logistics facilities across its markets. Some of these projects will be operational soon, according to the publication. Construction is currently underway on a facility in Almaty covering more than 100,000 square meters, while another 160,000-square-meter warehouse is being built in Astana. The new Astana hub is expected to open next year.
On July 28, Reuters reported, citing sources, that Wildberries founder and RWB chief Tatyana Kim-Russia’s richest woman-has discussed with Russian officials potential aid for entrepreneurs impacted by Ukrainian attacks on the company’s warehouses. Possible steps could include tax holidays to relieve financial pressure on Wildberries as it pays out compensation.
Another option reportedly under consideration is state-backed loans for Wildberries or its merchant partners.
On July 28, Dmitry Pyanov, First Deputy Chairman of VTB Bank, said the bank is open to providing various forms of credit support to Wildberries-Russ Group (RWB) if requested.
Back in May, VTB and Wildberries-Russ Group (RWB) announced a strategic partnership. As Interfax reminded , VTB’s first move was to acquire a 5% stake in RWB's subsidiary bank, with an option to increase its holding.
Since July 18, Ukrainian forces have conducted multiple strikes on Wildberries logistics hubs across Russia, including locations in the Moscow region, Tambov region, near St. Petersburg, in Tver, and Russian-annexed Crimea. On July 25, Ukrainian drones started a fire in a parking area near a Wildberries warehouse in Yekaterinburg, though the warehouse itself was not damaged.
According to Kommersant, the strikes have affected more than 10% of Wildberries’ warehouse capacity-over 550,000 square meters in total.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attacks a response to Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. He claimed that the targeted logistics centers, particularly those in Tambov and the Moscow region, were involved in supplying sanctioned components for drone and navigation equipment production.
Russia’s Deputy Security Council Secretary Alexander Maslennikov, in an interview with Vedomosti published early July 29, said the “psychological and socio-political effect” outweighed the “localized and largely symbolic” economic damage of these drone attacks on Wildberries.
Reuters, however, stressed that “Wildberries and major rival Ozon play a critical role in government plans to drive economic growth at a time when Moscow faces growing budgetary strain due to higher military spending and an overall economic slowdown.”
Ukrainian strikes on Wildberries warehouses in Russia have also hit sellers and buyers in Belarus, where Russian firms Wildberries and Ozon together control about half the online retail market, and a third of Belarusian goods are sold through Wildberries.
In 2026, Wildberries partially opened a major logistics center at the Great Stone Industrial Park outside Minsk. There were plans for another hub near Fanipol, but their future is uncertain, economist Anastasiya Luzgina told DW.
Some Belarusian companies whose goods were stored at damaged warehouses in Russia have already reverted to the FBS (fulfilled by seller) model.
On July 28, Belarusian online outlet Nasha Niva , whose journalists reportedly joined chats with Belarusians selling goods on Wildberries in Russia, wrote that amid ongoing attacks, the Minsk hub could now supply the Russian Central Federal District.
The article noted that Wildberries’ algorithm favors goods stored closer to the customer. That means, for example, after the destruction of the hub in Elektrostal, customers in Moscow will now see goods physically located in Minsk appear in their search results.
