Key facts
- Two Wildberries warehouses in Russia were struck by Ukrainian drones overnight July 30.
- One person was injured and over 200 people were evacuated from a warehouse in the Penza region.
- A fire occurred at a Wildberries facility in Sarapul, Udmurtia, due to a drone attack.
- A third reported attack on a sorting centre in Perm did not result in damage.
- These are the eighth and ninth Wildberries facilities targeted since July 18.
- Wildberries is a major online retailer in Russia, often described as Russia's answer to Amazon.
Two more warehouses belonging to Russian online retailer Wildberries were reportedly struck by Ukrainian drones overnight on July 30, continuing a targeted campaign against the company's facilities. Regional governor Oleg Melnichenko confirmed that warehouses were hit in Penza, with one person injured and over 200 evacuated. Another attack was reported outside Sarapul in Udmurtia. Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert "Magyar" Brovdi confirmed the strikes, marking the eighth and ninth Wildberries facilities targeted this month. Wildberries, which holds a significant share of Russia's online retail market, has seen multiple warehouses and logistics centers damaged or destroyed in recent weeks. Calculations by Russian media outlet Verstka indicated that Wildberries had already lost 15.4% of its total floor space prior to these latest attacks. The company's website lists military equipment, including drone components and body armor, for sale. Wildberries and its founder, Tatyana Kim, are subject to international sanctions due to Russia's war in Ukraine. The attacks are also viewed as a means to impact middle-class Russians who have otherwise remained largely insulated from the conflict.