Russia attacked Ukrainian retailer Epicentr’s warehouse 10 times in one day, destroying about 85% of goods, company says

On 13 October, Russian forces launched a series of attacks on Epicentr's warehouse hub in Khmelnytskyi, western Ukraine, resulting in the destruction of approximately 85% of the goods stored within. Epicentr, a Ukrainian retail chain specializing in home-improvement and household goods, detailed the attack in a statement. The incident comes amidst a series of Russian assaults on Ukraine's logistics network, already weakened by previous strikes.

In September, Ruslan Shostak, co-owner of Epicentr's Eva and Varus chains, reported that over 2.1 million square meters of modern warehouse space had been destroyed since the full-scale invasion commenced. Ukraine's modern warehouse space is estimated at around 5 million square meters. The Khmelnytskyi hub attack followed a barrage of 39 ballistic missiles launched by Russia on Ukraine's power grid, causing numerous drone strikes to hinder firefighting efforts.

Despite the intense fire, no employees were injured, according to Epicentr. The company had previously lost its two largest logistics complexes in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast to Russian aggression. The Khmelnytskyi hub, once its sole surviving large warehouse complex, was integral to Epicentr's operations, supplying goods to the company's shopping centers.

Epicentr described each attack as detrimental to Ukrainian businesses' capacity to function, maintain employment, and sustain the economy. Epicentr's earlier losses included the complete destruction of 10 shopping centers since February 2022, with 13 additional retail sites damaged, and one site still under Russian control. Prior to this attack, a Russian missile strike on 5 August completely burned down Epicentr's logistics center in Kyiv, with one employee killed and three injured.

A day earlier, Russian airstrikes on a hypermarket in Kharkiv killed 19 people. On 14 October, Khmelnytskyi Mayor Oleksandr Symchyshyn reported six injuries in the district, where Russian strikes targeted private enterprises, a gas station, and a medical facility.