Russian Government Proposes Tax Relief for Wildberries and Sellers After Drone Attacks
Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said the proposed measures include a deferral of taxes and insurance payments, as well as a freeze on tax audits.
The Russian government has introduced a financial assistance package for online retailer Wildberries and its sellers, following a series of drone attacks on the company's warehouses and logistics centers by Ukrainian forces, according to the Finance Ministry. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov announced the proposed measures, which include deferring taxes and insurance payments, as well as freezing tax audits, to alleviate administrative and financial pressures on the impacted businesses.
Sellers whose losses exceed 5% of their annual revenue will receive a 12-month deferral on value-added tax (VAT), corporate tax, and other liabilities from August 2026 to July 2027. Post-deferral, these obligations can be settled in equal monthly installments over the next year. The relief plan extends to Wildberries & Russ (RWB), the parent company of the e-commerce giant, with a similar deferral period and installment structure.
Additionally, the government plans to freeze tax audits and procedural deadlines for both RWB and Wildberries sellers until the end of the year. The relief measures are currently under review by the cabinet of ministers for approval by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The proposal stems from directives issued by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in early August, urging federal agencies and the Central Bank to provide emergency support to Wildberries and businesses selling goods on the platform.
Reports suggest that Ukraine has targeted over two dozen Wildberries facilities since mid-July, with Kyiv accusing the retailer of supplying the Russian military with drone parts and equipment. The estimated damages to the retailer's properties and seller inventory have been put at 878 billion rubles ($10.5 billion). President Vladimir Putin recently directed the government to aid in rebuilding commercial warehouses damaged in Ukrainian attacks.
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