After Wilderberries, Ukraine Targets Russia’s Second Largest Online Market

Ukraine has expanded its campaign against Russia’s ecommerce logistics network to Ozon, the country’s second-largest online marketplace, after weeks of drone strikes on market leader Wildberries.

A logistics center outside Krasnodar caught fire following a drone attack on Monday, according to Ozon, extending a series of incidents involving the company’s warehouses across southern and central Russia.

“A logistics center in the suburbs of Krasnodar came under attack by a UAV . . . A major fire has broken out, and emergency services are on the scene. Operations at the warehouse have been suspended,” Ozon said.

Ozon Network Comes Under Pressure

The Krasnodar attack followed incidents at four Ozon facilities in southern Russia over the weekend.

A fire was reported at the company’s warehouse in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan.

Sites in Adygeysk and Nevinnomyssk were evacuated after drone warnings, although Ozon said the buildings and goods there were not damaged.

Ozon facilities in the Samara region and neighboring Orenburg were also targeted on Saturday.

The sequence marks a shift toward Ozon following repeated Ukrainian attacks against infrastructure belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s largest online marketplace.

“After Ukrainian forces hit Wildberries’ 15 largest logistics hubs, it is Ozon’s turn,” Ukraine’s defense ministry said on Saturday.

Kyiv Signals Broader Drone Campaign

Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said Ukrainian drones struck 66 targets across Russia and Russian-controlled regions overnight into Monday.

His social media statement included a definition of “ozone,” apparently referencing the attacks on the retailer.

Russia’s defense ministry said its air defenses had intercepted almost 1,000 Ukrainian drones during the previous 24 hours.

Russian authorities said debris from drones also struck a children’s center in the Krasnodar region, killing three children and injuring several others.

Regional governor Veniamin Kondratiev said debris had fallen on residential buildings and apartment complexes under construction, while fires had broken out at warehouse facilities.

Kremlin Addresses Commercial Strikes

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Ukraine’s attacks on commercial infrastructure reflected what he described as its lack of progress on the battlefield.

Citing President Vladimir Putin, Peskov said Ukraine had opened a Pandora’s box and was now “feeling the consequences in Kyiv every day, every night, and will continue to feel them”.

He added that the Russian government was discussing possible assistance with affected businesses.

Ozon Shares Drop

Ozon shares fell almost 30 percent on the Moscow Exchange on Monday, leading the exchange to hold a discretionary auction.

The financial impact follows Russian government efforts to support Wildberries and merchants using its platform after earlier attacks.

Russia’s finance ministry proposed assistance including a 12-month deferral on VAT, income tax and other tax payments for eligible Wildberries sellers and businesses.

The ministry said support would apply to legal entities and individual entrepreneurs whose losses exceeded 5 percent of annual income.

Orenburg Warehouse Resumes Work

Russian regional officials sought to signal that some disrupted Ozon operations were recovering.

Anton Efimov, Orenburg’s vice-governor for economic affairs, said the local warehouse had restarted operations and that supply chains were returning to normal.

“The marketplace team responded quickly, and the supply chains are returning to normal,” Efimov said, adding: “EVERYTHING IS WORKING!”

The strikes came as Ukraine marked Independence Day.

In a video address on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv would not withdraw from the eastern Donbas region, rejecting a longstanding Russian demand.