Ukrainian Drone Attacks Push Russia's Largest Online Retailer Abroad
Desperate to blunt the threat posed by Ukrainian drone attacks, the operator of Wildberries, Russia’s leading e-commerce platform, is looking to lease warehouse space in neighboring Kazakhstan. In response to a series of recent Ukrainian drone strikes across Russia that have destroyed at least 10 percent of Wildberries’ inventory, representatives of RMB Group, the e-commerce platform’s parent…
Ukrainian drone attacks have forced Russia's leading e-commerce platform, Wildberries, to seek warehouse space outside of Russia. In response to recent Ukrainian drone strikes that destroyed at least 10 percent of the company's inventory, Wildberries' parent company, RMB Group, is scouting warehouse space in Kazakhstan and reportedly ready to occupy all available warehouses.
However, new warehouses in Kazakhstan won't be ready until 2027 at the earliest. The company is reluctant to find new warehousing space in Russia, preferring to add storage capacity in Kazakhstan instead. This decision could pose difficulties for Wildberries' delivery efforts, as cargo trucks face lengthy waits at the Kazakh-Russian border.
Kazakhstan and Russia, both members of the Eurasian Economic Union, have limited warehouse inventory, and border issues could hinder Wildberries' distribution efforts. Russian vendors are reportedly hesitant to work with Wildberries due to the risks outweighing any financial reward. The destruction of Wildberries' warehouses in Russia has caused significant losses for vendors in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, with some businesses receiving tax holidays until the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Central Asia is experiencing a surge in Russian immigration due to fears of a potential military draft in Russia.
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