Russian billboards in occupied Crimea urge support for Wildberries sellers after Ukrainian strikes

Footage published by the pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel Crimean Wind on July 28 showed these digital billboards. The messages urge citizens to "Support the entrepreneurs with an order." This initiative is part of a broader nationwide campaign by Wildberries, which TASS reported on July 26 had expanded to digital advertising screens across Russia.

The strikes on Wildberries' warehouses represent a new phase in Ukraine's drone campaign, which has previously targeted oil refineries, military installations, and energy infrastructure. Kyiv stated that these strikes are intended to disrupt Russian military logistics. Wildberries' platform offers items that can be used in the conflict, such as bulletproof vests and drone components.

Following the recent attacks, Wildberries reportedly began hiding dual-use military goods from search results for terms like "everything for the SVO" (the Russian acronym for the war in Ukraine). However, military-related items, including bulletproof vests, helmets, FPV drones, and their components, remain available under different categories like "Sport."

Wildberries' financial contributions to the Russian budget led to its banking arm being sanctioned by the EU in July. The company holds a significant position in Russia's consumer economy, controlling nearly half of the country's online retail market.

The appearance of the billboards in Sevastopol coincided with ongoing Ukrainian attacks. On July 28, the Russian-installed governor, Mikhail Razvozhayev, reported that air defense systems were repelling a Ukrainian assault. Ukraine has increased its long-range strikes on occupied Crimea, targeting Russian military infrastructure. These attacks have occasionally led to power outages due to damage to energy infrastructure.