Ukraine Bombs Russia’s Amazon—And It’s Not Just About the War

Ukraine has launched repeated strikes on warehouses owned by Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer. Kyiv says the attacks are meant to disrupt Moscow’s military supply chains. But economists warn the damage could hit Russia’s civilian economy far harder than the battlefield. Wildberries is often called “Russia’s Amazon.” It sells everything from clothes to electronics and delivers to millions of homes. Because of its size, the company also stores and ships goods used by the Russian military, including uniforms, radios, and medical supplies. By targeting these warehouses, Ukraine aims to slow down the flow of equipment to Russian troops. Each destroyed warehouse forces the military to find new supply routes, which costs time and money. However, the strikes have a second effect. Wildberries is a vital part of Russia’s domestic trade. Small businesses across the country depend on it to reach customers. When a warehouse burns, thousands of orders are lost. Sellers lose income, and consumers face delays or empty shelves. Experts say this is a double blow. The attacks hurt Russia’s ability to fight, but they also weaken public confidence in the economy. If people cannot buy basic goods, they start asking questions about the cost of the war. So far, Wildberries has not stopped operating. It has moved some stock to other regions. But each strike makes the network less reliable. For Ukraine, the message is clear: We can hit your war machine, and we can hit your daily life. For Russia, the risk is growing. The longer the war lasts, the more its economy—and its largest retailer—becomes a target.