Ukrainian drone strikes targeted warehouses belonging to Ozon, Russia’s second-largest online retailer, during overnight attacks on Monday. The company reported fires at logistics facilities in the southern regions of Krasnodar, Dagestan, Stavropol, and Adygea, noting that several people were injured. The Russian defense ministry reported that a strike in Krasnodar resulted in the deaths of three children, aged 13, 15, and 16, while six others were hospitalized.
The strikes follow a series of similar attacks on Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer. Ukraine’s defense ministry stated on Saturday that its units have hit 15 of Wildberries' largest logistics hubs and characterized these sites as "dual-use goods storage centers" that supply components to the Russian military. The Kremlin has denied that these online platforms are used for army supplies. Following the latest reports, shares in Ozon fell by as much as 12% on the Moscow Exchange, while shares in its major shareholder, AFK Sistema, dropped nearly 13%.
In addition to the fires in Krasnodar and Dagestan, Ozon workers in Adygeysk and Nevinnomyssk were evacuated. The company confirmed that a strike had also occurred in the Samara region on the previous day, resulting in injuries to staff members. Simultaneously, Russian strikes targeted food storage and energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa region, where local officials reported five people were injured.
The scale of the impact is reflected in the targeting of 15 major Wildberries hubs and at least five Ozon regions within a few days. For Ozon, the 12% drop in share value represents a significant loss in market capitalization for the firm and its investors. While the specific number of affected independent sellers was not reported, the broad usage of the platforms suggests thousands of businesses could be impacted. The Kremlin has stated it is developing options for state support for businesses affected by this situation, though specific figures or dates for such aid were not provided.
The shift in targeting toward online retail hubs sets a precedent for treating consumer logistics infrastructure as military-related targets. This development prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to state that Russia would respond by striking Ukraine’s "most sensitive economic sectors." For residents in both countries, these actions translate into increased risks to civilian infrastructure and logistics, as seen in the reported injuries to warehouse workers and the deaths of children in Krasnodar. Further military responses and potential government aid packages for Russian businesses are expected as the conflict continues to target economic nodes.