Wildberries Stated That It Is Not Obligated To Pay For The Burned Merchandise
- 19.07.2026, 15:39
The marketplace offered loans instead of compensation.
Following an attack by Ukrainian drones on Wildberries’ logistics complexes in Kotovsk (Tambov Region) and in Elektrostal, near Moscow, the company’s founder Tatyana Kim stated that the marketplace is not legally obligated to compensate sellers for the cost of lost goods, but is working out a payment mechanism and other financial support measures. “Despite the emergency situation and the lack of an obligation to compensate for lost goods, we are already working out the amounts of payments to sellers and other measures of financial support,” Kim wrote on her Telegram channel.
She also announced that, starting July 19, the company will introduce discounts on storage fees at a number of warehouses for a period of 45 days and will offer a 100% discount on transit shipments to regional distribution centers. According to Kim, the damage assessment required to determine the amount of payments to sellers will take up to 30 days. “Additional support measures for our partners are being developed in collaboration with WB Bank,” emphasized the founder of Wildberries.
At the same time, WB Bank—an entity within the Wildberries ecosystem—announced the launch of support measures for affected sellers. According to the bank’s press office, it is prepared to offer affected small and medium-sized businesses preferential loans and special factoring terms to help them replenish their inventory. The bank will also provide payment deferrals of up to six months. A separate support program for large businesses is expected to be launched in the near future. In addition, the bank will waive fees for payments within Russia and begin accruing interest on balances at a higher rate, according to The Moscow Times.
Seven Wildberries employees were killed in the attack on July 18, and more than 60 others were injured. Kim announced that the company will pay 2 million rubles to each of the victims’ families and 1 million rubles to each of the injured who are in serious condition. In Elektrostal, cleanup efforts are currently underway, and firefighters are extinguishing isolated pockets of fire, while in Kotovsk, firefighters have managed to put out the open flames.
Meanwhile, Wildberries’ updated terms of service took effect on July 7, under which the company disclaims liability for the loss of goods resulting from attacks by drones, missiles, and other munitions.
According to experts surveyed by Vedomosti, Wildberries may have lost approximately 350,000 square meters of logistics space as a result of the attacks—roughly 7% of its warehouse capacity. Total damages could reach 50 billion rubles, of which 20 billion represents the value of logistics parks and 30 billion represents destroyed goods and equipment. Experts estimate that it will take one to two years to restore the facilities. Sources at The Bell estimated the company’s loss of warehouse capacity at approximately 15%.
Managing Partner of “Vanchugov & Partners” Alexey Vanchugov noted that the most serious consequences stem not so much from damage to warehouses as from disruptions to logistics chains: he estimates that Wildberries’ logistics costs could double in the coming month. Konstantin Fomichenko, a partner at NF Group, believes that the existing distribution network will allow for the redistribution of goods among other facilities, although this will require changes to logistics routes in some regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the strikes on Wildberries were targeted. According to him, these facilities “were used to supply sanctioned components for the production of drones and navigation equipment.”