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.
This war won’t end while Putin is alive. Just take him out already
No.
Putin would be replaced by another imitator. Else the power vacuum would deviate Russia and pretty much all their neighbors. Putin created this system to serve him forever.
Zelenskyy is demonstrating to the population how impractical that system is. The propaganda, censorship, disappearing aren’t enough now.
Now when Putin falls, there is incentive to rebuild differently rather than find a stand-in to keep things going.
Zelenski’s playing the long game.
I truly believe Ukraine and Russia has a secret agreement where they can’t kill each other’s president, otherwise what’s taking so long?
EDIT: Since this is getting downvotes fast, I might aswell share the words of Zelenskyy;
https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/volodimir-zelenskij-mi-ne-atakuyemo-ani-putina-ani-moskvu-mi-82633
Yes, and I’m sure Putin is respecting this agreement because he’s such a honorable man.
When was the last time he targeted Mariinskyi (spoiler, 1 year ago, once)? Do tell me what I’m missing. Russia can clearly level the place with everyone inside, yet they don’t.
Putin respects things when he’s afraid. It’s reasonable to assume he’s afraid of what will follow next
You’re missing that Ukrainian intelligence is crashing Russian. Successful attacks on Kerch bridge, smuggling drones inside Russia, multiple successful assassinations of high ranking officials… What did Russia manage to do? Assassinate some opponents in Spain and Poland, assassinate Andriy Parubiy and pay some people to start fires inside Europe. Other that that? Not much. Putin has great security and so does Zelensky. If Russia could assassinate him they would.
Huh? I’m talking about killing Putin. I’m not sure if you meant to reply to someone else, but you’re speaking of war itself, not why Ukraine just doesn’t finally kill Putin or why Russia doesn’t level presidential palace. Reminder that Russia still has plenty of ballistic missiles, drones so many they can easily overwhelm air defenses, etc. They really should not have a problem to strike a building.
I’m not denying that Russia is losing or Ukrainian intelligence is wrecking havoc, that was never the question.
The intelligence is who’s providing security to both Putin and Zelensky. You need to hide their movements and provide good personal security. Putin has great personal security because he’s an ex KGB and expert himself in those things. He barely shows up in public. When he had to take part in the independence day parade he was scared shitless and even used Trump to get Ukraine not to stage any attacks. Ukraine can’t kill him because he’s hiding somewhere in a bunker all the time.
It’s the same with Zelensky. You can see Russia can’t get to any Ukrainian officials, they didn’t manage to assassinate anyone in retaliation for the generals Ukraine killed. They obviously will not be able to kill Zelensky who has the best security in Ukraine. And no, you can’t just drop missile on him. He’s not sitting in his office all day.
3 years is a long time. It still feels weird that they managed to level cities, but not presidential palaces, including kremlin
Not exactly. It’s been quietly accepted since the Peace of Westphalia treaties in 1648 that just taking out a ruling executive (King/President/etc.) was taboo. Of course, that hasn’t stopped it from happening, but it’s generally agreed that unless you can hold a territory, you don’t shatter its leadership because the ensuing anarchy and/or whatever comes next will bite you in the ass while also resulting in massive death tolls from the ensuing power struggle. If I’m not mistaken it’s actually considered a war crime under Geneva.
Of course, that rule has largely been discarded these days. No one batted an eye over Hussein or Gaddafi and, both the Russians and Ukrainians have reported numerous assassination attempts, some of which might even be real, but it’s still largely considered bad form.