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.

  • Buffalox@lemmy.world
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    14 hours ago

    Totally fair as retaliation for Russia taking out postal distribution centers in Ukraine for a while now.
    These attacks were opened up for by Russia, it is not Ukraine that is on the slippery slope but Russia.
    Also Russia can end this war at any time they want, by simply going home. Ukraine has no such option.

    • einkorn@feddit.org
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      13 hours ago

      “The other side did it too” is not a credible defense. You wouldnt want Ukraine committing war crimes, would you?

        • einkorn@feddit.org
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          12 hours ago

          No, it is not. But Russia has clearly committed war crimes in Bucha and other places. By OPs logic that would excuse Ukraine committing war crimes as well.

          That’s why I used the term “You wouldn’t want”.

          • AbidanYre@lemmy.world
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            9 hours ago

            No, it is not.

            And there’s the end of the discussion. You yourself admitting this isn’t a war crime pretty well undercuts all your slippery slope arguments.

            • einkorn@feddit.org
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              8 hours ago

              So there can be no discurse about where the trend is going unless we already crossed the red line?

          • WanderingThoughts@europe.pub
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            10 hours ago

            It doesn’t seem to matter that much anymore. International law and war crimes are a suggestion at the moment and nobody is enforcing them.

      • Takapapatapaka@tarte.nuage-libre.fr
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        10 hours ago

        Yup, i’m with you there, and also quite afraid of how people seem to react to your takes, given that they are quite nuanced. Propaganda of warmongerers, no matter their side, really impacted a lot of people.

      • Buffalox@lemmy.world
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        12 hours ago

        Yes actually it is in the case of war. You can’t fight a war where you can’t retaliate on a method of attacks the aggressor uses.
        You also completely forget to address that this war is 100% Russia’s, and only they can end it because they are the aggressor.
        Also this is justified as military targets, because Wildberry is a HUGE distributor of military equipment. Almost everything donated to the Russian military is distributed through Wildberry warehouses.
        Thirdly I don’t really think much counts after Russia has attacked civilian infrastructure since the start of the war, and continue to attack residential buildings on a daily basis.
        So kindly think again about your “worries”. It sounds decidedly like Russian propaganda!

        • einkorn@feddit.org
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          11 hours ago

          It’s a dangerous train of thought if not supporting someone unconditionally sounds like propaganda to you. You may kindly think about this as well.