Between August 23 and 24, Ukrainian military forces launched a wave of drone strikes targeting Ozon, one of Russia’s largest e-commerce operators, hitting the company six times across four separate regions, according to state-backed and independent reports. The attacks form part of an escalating campaign against Russian logistical infrastructure, following months of similar strikes on industry leader Wildberries.
Drone Campaign Hits Russia’s E-Commerce Infrastructure
Simultaneous Overnight Raids Across Multiple Regions
State news agency Tass and independent media outlets reported that four sites belonging to the online retail giant were struck by drones overnight, impacting regions including Krasnodar, Adygeysk in the Republic of Adygea, Nevinnomyssk in Stavropol Krai, and Makhachkala in Dagestan, alongside a fully destroyed warehouse in the Volga region city of Chapayevsk. In Orenburg, approximately 300 employees were evacuated following a fire at an Ozon logistics center triggered by a drone impact, according to company statements.
Kyiv Shifts Focus After Crippling Rival Retailers
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense claimed responsibility for the systematic strikes on e-commerce centers via Telegram, asserting that the targeted platforms supply components to Kremlin forces. Beyond the military rationale, Kyiv aims to penalize the broader Russian economy. According to an Ozon press release cited by the independent outlet The Bell and reported by Courrier International, Ukrainian forces shifted their focus to Ozon after disabling roughly three quarters of the largest warehouses belonging to Wildberries, the nation’s top e-commerce firm.
Billion-Ruble Losses Send Shockwaves Through Markets
The cumulative logistical damage across the sector has been evaluated between 600 and 800 billion rubles, translating to roughly 6.2 to 8.3 billion euros. Financial markets reacted sharply to the sustained disruption. Following the announcements of the warehouse strikes, Ozon shares dropped by nearly 12 percent on the Moscow Exchange, while shares in its parent company, AFK Sistema, declined by nearly 13 percent. Economic publication Expert noted that certain trading sessions saw Ozon shares plummet by as much as 29 percent to reach multi-month lows.
Sprawling Supply Networks Leave Hubs Exposed
The vulnerability of both Ozon and Wildberries stems from their sprawling, independent infrastructure models. Comprising hundreds of distributed fulfillment centers, sorting facilities, and pickup points spread across Russia’s vast geography, the networks lack heavy military-grade defense, making them susceptible to airborne disruptions that can halt regional supply chains. While Tass reported no casualties resulting directly from the Ozon facility strikes due to preventive evacuations, local outlets including the regional portal 93.ru documented that drone debris struck a children’s center north of Krasnodar, resulting in three fatalities among youths aged 13, 15, and 16, with six others hospitalized, as confirmed by Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian presidential commissioner for children’s rights.
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