uawire.org
Ukrainian strikes on Wildberries threaten Russian economy and spark wave of bankruptcies, sources say
Ukrainian attacks on Wildberries’ warehouses are impacting not just Russia’s largest online marketplace, but tens of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises now facing a tsunami of bankruptcies. According to international media, disruptions at Wildberries are already causing major shockwaves through Russia’s retail sector.
A source close to the Kremlin told Reuters that a severe blow has landed on many small and medium businesses, and this could lead to a domino effect of failures.
“A wave of bankruptcies is coming. No one has the resources needed to support the sellers; we’re talking about hundreds of billions of rubles. This is a major hit to the economy,” the source said.
Satellite imagery analysis shows that at least 1.18 million square meters of Wildberries’ warehouse space has been damaged or destroyed-more than 20% of the company’s capacity. For a platform relied on by thousands of sellers, this is not just about lost storage. It’s a total breakdown of the chain: warehousing, delivery, payments to merchants, operation of pick-up points, and consumer trust.
Together with other e-commerce platforms, Wildberries processes goods and services worth the equivalent of 8.5% of the Russian economy. Such strikes, therefore, aren’t just a challenge for one company, but a massive problem for a huge segment of Russian commerce.
For sellers, the risks are particularly acute.
Many purchase inventory on credit, store it in marketplace facilities, and count on recouping their investment through future sales. If a warehouse burns, their goods disappear-but loan payments, taxes, rent, and supplier obligations remain. If compensation is insufficient or delayed, entrepreneurs can quickly find themselves facing insolvency.
Reuters also reports that these attacks could complicate the Russian central bank’s efforts to lower its key interest rate, currently at 14%. Elina Ribakova, an economist at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, says these strikes represent a fresh supply shock.
“The Russian economy is likely to see zero growth this year, with a contraction earlier in the first quarter. Inflation is still high, so any small shock could force the central bank to slow or even halt planned rate cuts altogether. That’s why supply-side shocks are so significant,” Ribakova said.
