Now Reading: Ukraine drone strikes target Russian retailer Wildberries warehouses
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Ukraine drone strikes target Russian retailer Wildberries warehouses
Ukraine drone strikes target Russian retailer Wildberries warehouses
Hindustan Times reports that Ukraine's drone campaign has struck nearly two dozen Wildberries warehouses, with the latest attack on Friday starting a fire at a facility in Yekaterinburg. The strikes have reached…
The Story in Brief
Hindustan Times reports that Ukraine's drone campaign has struck nearly two dozen Wildberries warehouses, with the latest attack on Friday starting a fire at a facility in Yekaterinburg. The strikes have reached more than 1,000 miles from the front line. Kyiv says the sale of military equipment through the online retailer makes it a legitimate target.
Data Insight estimates inventory losses of $5 billion since the attacks began. Wildberries owes Russian banks over $10 billion in loans, and Kremlin discussions about a bailout are underway. The company, founded by former English teacher Tatyana Kim in 2004, employs nearly 15,000 people. Its history includes a power struggle between a Kremlin-linked oligarch and a Chechen warlord that led to a deadly shootout at its Moscow offices.
The Indian Opinion
Two lazy stories surround the drone campaign: that Ukraine is bravely attacking Russia's economy, or that Russia's business culture is uniquely violent. Neither captures the full picture. Ukraine's strikes are a tactical response to Russian aggression, but hitting warehouses selling sneakers and military gear alike is a blunt instrument. Meanwhile, Wildberries' rise on Kremlin patronage, culminating in a deadly office shootout, shows cronyism at work, not resilience. The real test will be whether the Kremlin bails out a company that owes banks over $10 billion, and what that does to the rouble.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
