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Ukrainian drone strikes hit warehouses of Russia's second-largest online retailer

Attacks on Ozon logistics facilities across multiple Russian regions caused fires, casualties, and stock market declines following similar strikes on rival Wildberries.

The short version

  • Ukrainian drones targeted logistics centers belonging to Russian e-commerce firm Ozon in several southern regions including Dagestan, Krasnodar, Stavropol, and Adygea.
  • Russian officials reported that three teenagers were killed and six children were hospitalized in Krasnodar, while several warehouse workers were injured and others evacuated across multiple sites.
  • Ukraine's defense ministry stated that targeting dual-use logistics centers aims to disrupt enemy logistics and impact the Russian economy, while Moscow denies that online retail platforms are used for military supplies.
  • Shares in Ozon and its major shareholder AFK Sistema dropped over 12% on the Moscow Exchange following the strikes.

Key facts

  • Overnight Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Ozon logistics centers in southern Russian regions including Krasnodar, Dagestan, Stavropol, and Adygea, causing fires and worker evacuations.[BBC News]
  • Russian officials said three children were killed and six others were hospitalized following a drone attack in Krasnodar.[BBC News]
  • Ukraine's defense ministry characterized the strikes as part of an effort to disrupt military supply lines and damage the broader Russian economy.[BBC News]
  • The Kremlin denied that Russian e-commerce platforms are utilized for supplying the military.[BBC News]
  • Shares of Ozon fell up to 12% on the Moscow Exchange, while its shareholder AFK Sistema saw shares drop by nearly 13%.[BBC News]
  • Separate Russian strikes in Ukraine's Odesa region hit energy and food storage infrastructure, injuring five people according to regional officials.[BBC News]

What remains uncertain

  • The full extent of state financial assistance or intervention options the Kremlin may provide to affected retailers remains undecided.[BBC News]
  • Ukraine claims the e-commerce hubs store dual-use goods for the military, a claim denied by Moscow.[BBC News]

Sources