Ukrainian drones have hit warehouses belonging to Russia's biggest online retailer again, injuring 15 people, according to the company's founder and regional governors. Logistics hubs belonging to Wildberries in the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions were impacted by overnight attacks, leading to workers evacuated, the founder said.
It is the second time Ukraine has attacked the firm's facilities in four days, with warehouses in Tambov and Elektrostal hit on Saturday, killing eight and injuring 62. Kyiv has claimed the warehouses have been used to supply components to make Russia's drones and navigation equipment.
Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim said the company's logistics centres in Krasnodar and the city of Nevinnomyssk in the Stravropol region were attacked.
"There are no words to describe all the feelings and emotions caused by the attacks on ordinary people, on our employees, on us, who are simply doing our jobs," she wrote on Telegram. "But these situations demonstrate the most important thing: we must continue to do what we do for the benefit of people."
Five people were hurt in a warehouse complex on the outskirts of Nevinnomyssk, Governor Vladimir Vladimirov said on Telegram. They all received outpatient treatment, he added.
Ten people were injured in the attack on a warehouse complex in Krasnodar, with three in a serious condition, the region's governor Veniamin Kondratyev said.
Kondratyev said the region was hit by a "massive attack last night", with strikes on a company in the city of Armavir also killing one employee. The city administration reported that an oil depot was struck by unmaned aerial vehicles, causing a fire.
Drone fragments also struck two apartment buildings in Krasnodar and two private homes in the village of Dinskaya, the governor said. There were no injuries.
Ukraine has not yet confirmed or posted details about the new drone attacks.
Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, has previously told BBC that Wildberries' website had been used by Russian volunteers to buy military equipment.
"The primary rationale for striking Wildberries' warehouses is to disrupt Russian logistics and the supply of dual-use goods, critical electronics, sanctioned goods and the like to the Russian army and Russian arms manufacturers," he said.
"The collateral damage from such strikes could also have a serious impact on the Russian economy, as well as a psychological effect on Russian society and, likely, on continued support for the war."
What happened in the latest attacks?
Ukrainian drones struck Wildberries logistics sites in the Krasnodar and Stavropol regions overnight, injuring 15 people in total and prompting evacuations of workers, according to the company's founder and the regional governors. Five people were hurt in a warehouse complex on the outskirts of Nevinnomyssk in the Stavropol region, Vladimir Vladimirov said on Telegram, and all received outpatient treatment. Ten people were injured in a warehouse complex in Krasnodar, with three in a serious condition, said governor Veniamin Kondratyev.
Kondratyev said Krasnodar region faced a "massive attack last night". He said strikes on a company in the city of Armavir killed one employee, while the city administration reported that an oil depot was struck by unmaned aerial vehicles, causing a fire. Drone fragments also hit two apartment buildings in Krasnodar and two private homes in the village of Dinskaya, though no injuries were reported there.
How has Wildberries been affected this week?
This was the second attack on the retailer's facilities in four days. On Saturday, warehouses in Tambov and Elektrostal were hit, killing eight people and injuring 62. Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim said the latest attacks targeted the company's logistics centres in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk. She said the strikes affected ordinary people and employees who were simply doing their jobs, but added that the company must continue working for the benefit of people.
Why does Ukraine say the warehouses matter?
Kyiv has claimed the warehouses were used to supply components for Russian drones and navigation equipment. Serhii Kuzan, chairman of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre, previously told BBC that Wildberries' website had been used by Russian volunteers to buy military equipment.
He said the main reason for striking Wildberries' warehouses was to disrupt Russian logistics and the supply of dual-use goods, critical electronics, sanctioned goods and similar items to the Russian army and Russian arms manufacturers. He also said the collateral damage from such strikes could affect the Russian economy, have a psychological effect on Russian society and likely affect continued support for the war.
