Ukraine is attacking 'Russia's Amazon', and it could lead to a bigger prize
Ukraine is systematically targeting warehouses belonging to the Russian retailer Wildberries with drone strikes. Analysts suggest this strategy aims to disrupt Russia's financial system and economy by hitting a major contributor to the country's GDP.
Why it matters
The targeting of critical economic infrastructure represents an escalation in the economic warfare component of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
A Wildberries warehouse burns on the outskirts of Saint Petersburg earlier this month. ( Social media via Reuters )
Link copied Share Share article For Ukraine's drones buzzing over the border, they have been lucrative targets.
On the outskirts of Russian cities, enormous warehouses belonging to the country's largest online retailer, Wildberries, have been struck systematically over the past four weeks.
The company is often compared to Amazon and sells everything from clothing and electronics to books, groceries and cosmetics.
Kyiv has accused Wildberries of helping supply President Vladimir Putin's military and says it must be stopped.
But there's another reason this business is being attacked, and experts say it could affect Russia's entire financial system.
Over the past four weeks, Ukrainian drones have struck at least 22 Wildberries facilities. Some have been destroyed while others have been shuttered or had their operations disrupted due to the damage.
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