Ukrainian drone strikes target Russia’s second‑largest e‑commerce hub, Ozon
Ukrainian drone attacks set fire to Ozon logistics warehouses in the southern regions of Krasnodar, Dagestan, Stavropol and Adygea, injuring workers and spreading flames across the sites.
Ozon reported that a fire broke out at a logistics center in Makhachkala, Dagestan, around 05:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Monday, and that a major blaze was burning at its Krasnodar facility. Russian authorities registered the death of three children at the latter site; six additional children were taken to hospital.
Ukraine has been targeting sites belonging to Wildberries, the country’s largest online retailer, claiming them to be legitimate due to purported military supply duties – an assertion denied by Moscow. Now, Ozon is being hit as its facilities are also seen as key logistical nodes.
The attacks came a day after the company’s Samara‑region site was struck, causing further worker injuries. Video footage released by the BBC shows a drone hitting a warehouse in the Orenburg region and displays a plume of smoke from the Dagestan location.
Shares of Ozon fell by as much as 12 % on the Moscow Exchange on Monday morning, while shares of its major shareholder, private equity firm AFK Sistema, dipped almost 13 %. The Kremlin said it was working with business representatives to explore state support options for the company in this difficult situation.
Both governments deny deliberate targeting of civilians. Russia’s defense ministry has announced that it will retaliate against Ukraine’s “most sensitive economic sectors” in response to the strikes, echoing President Vladimir Putin’s comments that Ukraine opened a “Pandora’s box.”
The targeting of Ozon and Wildberries brings the conflict to ordinary Russians, who rely on these platforms for a wide range of goods. The companies, described as Russia’s Amazon, serve as marketplaces connecting independent sellers with consumers across the country, operating primarily as logistics providers rather than direct retailers.
