Key facts
- Ukrainian drone attacks have increasingly targeted Russian infrastructure, including oil refineries and e-commerce warehouses.
- Strikes on Wildberries warehouses have elicited a notably sarcastic and angry public response, with criticism directed at both Ukraine and Russian authorities.
- Many Russians affected by the strikes express a sense of injustice, feeling they upheld their end of a societal bargain by staying out of politics.
- The attacks highlight a potential erosion of the social contract in Russia, where citizens expected security and a certain standard of living in return for political non-participation.
Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory have intensified, moving beyond oil infrastructure to target major e-commerce hubs like Wildberries warehouses. These strikes are increasingly bringing the realities of the war home to ordinary Russians, eliciting complex reactions that include anger towards authorities and a sense of bewilderment from those who feel personally uninvolved in the conflict.
While oil refinery attacks, such as those in Omsk, Syzran, and Bashkortostan, have become almost routine, the strikes on Wildberries warehouses have generated a distinct public response. Analysis of social media reactions shows a higher proportion of sarcastic and mocking emojis, alongside direct grievances against the Russian government, ruling party United Russia, and air defense capabilities. Some comments question the purpose of paying taxes if the state cannot provide protection, while others allude to the company's alleged involvement in sanctioned component supply chains.
The article suggests that these reactions stem from a long-standing societal bargain in Russia: citizens remained politically disengaged and focused on personal well-being in exchange for stability. The current strikes, impacting entrepreneurs and sellers, challenge this arrangement, leading to a sense of injustice and incomprehension. The author speculates on potential outcomes, ranging from protests by affected entrepreneurs to increased public mobilization, though notes that significant self-organization appears unlikely based on past events. A more probable scenario is a continued, quiet erosion of the social contract.
Separately, Ukrainian forces have also targeted military assets, including the Federal Security Service patrol ship 'Izumrud' and numerous vessels of the 'shadow' fleet in the Black and Azov Seas, underscoring a multi-pronged approach to disrupting Russian operations.