Russia's second-largest online retailer, Ozon, has been targeted in overnight Ukrainian drone strikes that damaged multiple warehouses across southern Russia, including facilities in Dagestan and Krasnodar. The attacks, verified by social media videos showing plumes of smoke and flames rising from Ozon facilities, also affected sites in Adygeysk and Nevinnomyssk.
These strikes follow an earlier attack on an Ozon site in the Samara region, which resulted in injuries to company workers. Ukraine's defense ministry stated that systematic strikes on dual-use goods storage centers are intended to complicate enemy logistics and negatively affect the Russian economy. The ministry specifically mentioned targeting Ozon after previously striking its competitor, Wildberries.
Ozon, founded in 1998, is one of Russia's earliest online retailers and, along with Wildberries, serves an estimated 85-90% of Russia's economically active population. Both companies are often described as "Russia's Amazon" and are crucial for delivering essential goods, including clothing and household appliances, to many Russians, particularly in remote areas without accessible shops. Unlike Amazon, Ozon and Wildberries primarily operate as marketplaces, connecting independent sellers with buyers and handling storage, delivery, and payments. This model means that many businesses operating on these platforms bear the brunt of losses incurred from such attacks.
The Kremlin has denied that these online platforms are used to supply the Russian army.
Following the overnight attacks, Ozon's shares fell by as much as 12% on the Moscow Exchange, and shares in its major shareholder, AFK Sistema, dropped by nearly 13%. The Russian government has indicated it is working with business representatives to explore options for providing support to Ozon during this challenging period.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine's Odesa region, separate overnight strikes targeted food storage facilities and energy infrastructure, resulting in five injuries, according to regional head Oleg Kiper.