Ukraine expands drone strikes to Russia's Ozon after Wildberries campaign
Ukrainian forces have turned their drones on Ozon, Russia's second‑largest online marketplace, after a weeks‑long assault on rival Wildberries.
Ukraine's military announced on Saturday that it has begun a drone campaign against Ozon, Russia's second‑largest online marketplace, after weeks of strikes on rival retailer Wildberries. The move signals a widening of Ukraine's strategy to hit commercial targets that it says support the Russian war effort.
Background to the campaign
After Ukrainian units hit the 15 largest logistics hubs of Wildberries, it is now Ozon's turn,
The defence ministry said the statement, underscoring a deliberate shift from the country's top e‑commerce platform to its second‑largest.
Impact on Russian e‑commerce
Both Wildberries and Ozon have been dubbed "Russia's Amazon" because they dominate a fast‑growing online market. The destruction of flammable product stockpiles has already cost billions of dollars, according to industry estimates. Vladimir Putin pledged on Wednesday that the government would assist in rebuilding logistics hubs hit by the attacks, signalling a political commitment to keep the e‑commerce sector afloat.
What may follow
Analysts expect Ukraine to continue targeting high‑volume distribution centres, as they are easier to reach than fortified military bases. For Russian businesses, the immediate challenge will be restoring disrupted supply chains and reassuring customers about delivery reliability. In the longer term, the campaign could push the Russian state to further nationalise or subsidise key online retailers, reshaping the country's digital economy.
