Why Kyiv keeps attacking Russian retail giant Wildberries

Early Sunday, Ukrainian drones launched a coordinated attack on Wildberries warehouses, causing significant damage to the retailer's operations in Russia. The attacks, which have been occurring nearly every day for weeks, have resulted in the destruction of multiple warehouses and the death of at least nine employees. These strikes have dealt a severe blow to Wildberries, an e-commerce platform that has become a critical supply chain for Russia, with analysts estimating losses of up to $9.5 billion.

The Kremlin has denied that the warehouses were used for military purposes, but an independent analysis found that tens of thousands of military and dual-use goods were being sold through the platform. The attacks have disrupted the company's operations and affected around 400,000 sellers, with the Russian Association of Electronic Trading Platforms reporting a significant impact on civilians' income and access to goods.

Despite facing substantial debt, Wildberries has requested government support to help weather the storm. This campaign of attacks on Wildberries is seen as an effort to disrupt civilian life and send a message to Russian elites, including influential figures involved with the company.