Ukraine takes aim at Russia’s economy and morale by attacking online retailer

Ukraine has been striking at the heart of Russia’s economy by targeting its online retail giant, Wildberries. Over the past month, Ukrainian drones have struck Wildberries warehouses across the country, from Moscow and St. Petersburg to the Ural Mountains. These warehouses, which serve as the backbone of Wildberries' logistics network, have burned down, causing billions of dollars in damages and disrupting Russia's e-commerce landscape.

Wildberries, founded by Tatyana Kim, the country's richest female entrepreneur, initially sold clothing before expanding to a wide range of products. It now accounts for about half of all online orders in Russia, serving about 500,000 to 800,000 sellers. The attacks have not only caused significant financial losses for Wildberries but have also posed a new challenge to President Vladimir Putin, highlighting Ukraine's ability to strike deep within Russian territory.

The attacks have also put pressure on the financial system, as Wildberries has taken out massive loans from banks to expand its operations. Wildberries' warehouses, which were previously considered easy targets due to their unprotected state, have been particularly vulnerable to Ukraine's long-range drone attacks.