The recent uptick in Ukrainian drone strikes has forced Wildberries, Russia’s largest e-commerce platform, to shift significant inventory operations abroad. Drones bombed logistics facilities across Russia, destroying about 10% of Wildberries’ warehouse capacity and prompting the company to explore warehousing in Kazakhstan.
## Major Losses and Strategic Shift
Wildberries has endured multiple drone attacks over the past weeks, claiming around 10% of its storage infrastructure was either destroyed or severely damaged. Warehouse losses represent approximately 552,000 square meters—impacting both large regional hubs and smaller distribution centers.
In response, Wildberries is actively seeking warehouse space in Kazakhstan. The company is “ready to occupy all available warehouse space” in the country, eyeing facilities totaling tens of thousands of square meters.
## New Warehouses in Almaty and Astana
Wildberries is already planning two major logistics facilities in Kazakhstan:
– A 103,000 sq. m facility near Almaty.
– A 160,000 sq. m logistics hub close to Astana.
Both are currently under construction. The Almaty site projects completion sometime in 2026, while the Astana hub is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2027.
Though these centers will serve Kazakh markets primarily, Wildberries hopes they will also facilitate distribution into Russia. The warehouses are expected to ease the risk from drone attacks inside Russia, offering a degree of protection by using facilities across the border.
## Border Complexities and Operational Challenges
Moving operations into Kazakhstan doesn’t come without friction. Although Kazakhstan and Russia are both members of the Eurasian Economic Union, the border is far from seamless. Customs procedures on the Kazakhstan–Russia border are time-consuming, and recent addition of police checkpoints aim to clamp down on gas purchase tourism from Russians facing fuel shortages.
Warehouse space within Kazakhstan is also constrained. Much of what’s available is already occupied or under development. Wildberries’ search for large-scale logistics facilities has been hampered by limited supply.
## Small Businesses Feel the Shock
The ripple effects have struck independent vendors hard. Many who used Wildberries’ logistics infrastructure have lost inventory—sometimes entirely—after warehouses burned in strikes. A fashion designer lost nearly half of her stock when a warehouse in Elektrostal was hit, while others across southern Russia also faced massive destruction.
That loss threatens small businesses already stretched by inflation, supply chain disruptions, and economic sanctions. With warehouse losses modeled at tens to hundreds of millions of rubles, many are now scrambling with unpaid bills, unsold goods, and lost contracts.
## Political and Social Fallout
Beyond economics, the strikes and relocations are contributing to a growing wave of Russian emigration into Central Asia. Many observers believe the prospect of new military mobilization in the fall—amid reports of troop depletion—fuels fears among Russian citizens. Kazakhstan’s officials report increased real estate purchases and investments from Russian nationals.
Wildberries’ leadership has denied claims that the company plays any military role, even as Ukrainian authorities designate its warehouses as legitimate targets. Kyiv alleges that some of the goods handled by Wildberries—electronics and components—are used to support the Russian war effort.
Meanwhile, Wildberries co-founder Tatiana Kim has publically stated that insurance does not cover losses from drone attacks. Thus, vendor losses and warehouse damage are largely incurred without protection.
## Looking Ahead
Wildberries is working to expand its logistics footprint by an additional 1.7 million square meters in Russia and across foreign markets by the end of 2026. The Astana project alone—worth 47.7 billion tenge—promises to create approximately 6,000 jobs.
Still, with operations in Russia suffering due to drone strikes and logistical disruptions, the company faces mounting costs, supply chain delays, and an eroding vendor base. The next year may prove critical in whether Wildberries manages to adapt, or if further attacks continue to chip away at its business.
This article is AI-generated content. Please verify the information independently before taking any action based on this article.
