Ukraine hits Russia's largest online marketplace to bring the war home

Ukraine has intensified its aerial campaign by striking numerous warehouses of Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, in an effort to disrupt the nation's war economy and bring the conflict home to its citizens. The attacks have generated dramatic images of smoke billowing from the facilities, which are Russia's equivalent of Amazon.

In less than two weeks, Ukraine has struck over a dozen Wildberries depots across western and southern Russia, as well as in Russian-held Crimea. These strikes, which began on July 18 in Elektrostal and the Tambov region, have resulted in nine deaths and scores of injuries. Kyiv asserts that these facilities supplied military gear and technical components to Russia's armed forces, a claim the Kremlin denies, accusing Ukraine of targeting civilian infrastructure.

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Our focus now turns to implementation.

Launched in 2004 by Tatyana Kim, Wildberries has grown into a dominant e-commerce platform. It enables numerous businesses to sell a vast array of products, from clothing and cosmetics to electronics and household items, to customers nationwide. The company also operates Wildberries Bank, which has faced sanctions from the UK and EU. Forbes Russia estimated Kim's net worth at $8.1 billion in April.

With an estimated 500,000 to 800,000 sellers utilizing the platform, Wildberries accounts for a significant portion of Russia's online market, handling 52% of all online orders, according to data analyst Sergei Semko. Despite the attacks, some shoppers expressed continued reliance on the platform for its convenience, even if prices were to increase.

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Well, if they raise the prices, I don't mind. It still saves me time, and time is even more valuable.