Russia’s biggest online shopping platform, Wildberries, has been hit hard by Ukrainian drone attacks on its massive warehouses. One big strike torched a huge logistics hub in Elektrostal, just outside Moscow, with more attacks following on sites in southern Russia. Fires raged, there were casualties, and a ton of goods went up in smoke.
For millions of Russians — especially in places far from regular shops — Wildberries (and its rival Ozon) is basically their go-to for everything from clothes to appliances. These platforms work like giant marketplaces where thousands of small independent sellers store and sell their stuff. Now a bunch of those sellers have lost serious money overnight: one woman selling school supplies saw her whole fresh delivery burn right before the busy back-to-school season, and another lost the equivalent of over £13,000 in teen clothing stock. Many are pausing new shipments because they’re worried about more attacks.
Wildberries’ owner has tried to soften the blow with some discounts and fee waivers, but sellers aren’t expecting full compensation — the company quietly added drone attacks to its “force majeure” list just days before the strikes.
Zelensky openly said Ukraine is bringing the war back to Russia in response to all the Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and warehouses. Meanwhile, these hits are piling onto other problems Russian small businesses are already facing: higher taxes, fuel shortages from earlier strikes on refineries, internet disruptions, and a tough economic climate with inflation and falling oil revenues. It’s another blow to businesses that Putin has called vital for keeping the country going during the war.
In short, the attacks are showing how Ukraine’s long-range drones are starting to bite into everyday Russian life and commerce, not just military targets.
No, I don’t necessarily have to. I can try to calm them down or I can try to wrestle them to the ground. There are different options available before resorting to punching. Just because I could doesn’t automatically mean I should.
Russia is much bigger than Ukraine. You might succeed in wrestling someone to the ground in a one on one fight, much less likely (to say the least) if you’re up against two or three people. Ukraine is far from a position where they can pick and choose the nicer methods to win the war.
You are missing my point. Fighting or war for that matter is not a binary state. It’s a process of escalating steps.
At the start of the invasion Russia thought they would simply roll down the road to Kyiv and crush the Ukrainian army on the way. This led to ridiculous situation such as that large tank column being shot to pieces and farmers capturing military equipment.
After that Russias tactic changed to i.e. targeting civilian infrastructure or war crimes like those in Bucha in an attempt to break the resolve of the Ukrainian citizens which obviously didn’t work so they escalated further.
I’d argue at the end of this ladder is a Russian nuclear attack. Do I think that’s likely? No, not at all because breaking the nuclear taboo the negative consequences far outweigh the possible gains.
My concern is that as Ukraine is climbing their own escalatory ladder this might lead to actions which start blurring the lines between fighting the Russian military and fighting civilians.
Your point is that you’re vaguely concerned about something but won’t provide realistic alternatives.
I don’t have to provide the solution just because I voice a concern. Me dictating Ukraine how to fight their war wouldn’t be much more than the ramblings of an armchair general.