Why are Russians and Ukrainians attacking e-commerce warehouses?

A recent escalation in aerial attacks between Russia and Ukraine has seen both sides target e-commerce warehouses, resulting in civilian deaths, millions in losses for companies, and significant disruption for customers. Both Moscow and Kyiv allege that these facilities are being utilized for the distribution and assembly of drones.

Ukraine claims Russia initiated the conflict against these logistical hubs earlier this year, citing attacks on Nova Poshta, Ukraine's most popular postal service. In mid-June, three Russian ballistic missiles reportedly destroyed Nova Poshta's innovative center in Kyiv, with a similar incident occurring in the Kharkiv region days later. Kyiv responded by targeting two warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's equivalent of Amazon, with Ukrainian drones striking at least five of its distribution centers within Russian territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday that long-range Ukrainian sanctions successfully struck significant targets in Russia's Krasnodar and Stavropol regions, identifying them as logistics centers involved in supplying drone components, navigation equipment, and other items. In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Kyiv of continuing to attack civilian targets, labeling it as the "terrorist essence of the Kyiv regime."

Independent experts estimate that Wildberries will incur millions of dollars in reconstruction costs, though the company has reportedly shown no intention of compensating its clients for their losses, estimated at around $1.9 billion. Nova Poshta reported four deaths in the recent Kharkiv attack and over twenty employees killed since the conflict began, with more than twenty of its logistics centers, establishments, and terminals damaged or destroyed by the Russian army.