Total losses of Wildberries and its sellers due to Ukrainian drone strikes on the company's logistics centers over the past month could reach 600–800 billion rubles, according to infohub.kz.
According to calculations by Data Insight analyst Sergei Semko, restoring damaged warehouses and other infrastructure could cost Wildberries 147–223 billion rubles. If full dismantling of facilities, waste removal, and land reclamation are required, costs could rise to 278.9 billion rubles.
Semko estimates sellers' losses at an additional 445–507.8 billion rubles.
Similar estimates were previously given by Margarita Evstigneeva, head of the Association of Suppliers of Goods for E-commerce Platforms in Russia. According to her, more than 400,000 Wildberries sellers were affected, and their total losses, including lost profits, could amount to 600–700 billion rubles.
She also claims that some sellers lost up to 95% of their inventory. The cost of destroyed goods is estimated at 200–300 billion rubles.
Since mid-July, Ukrainian drones have regularly attacked Wildberries logistics facilities in Russia. According to DW, citing an analysis of satellite images by Reuters, the company may have lost about 20% of its warehouse capacity.
More than 20 logistics centers were hit, including in St. Petersburg, Tula, Elektrostal, Krasnodar, and Nevinnomyssk. At least 14 facilities are said to have been destroyed by fires.
Sources at The Bell previously estimated Wildberries' direct losses at 100–200 billion rubles. Meanwhile, the company's turnover reportedly fell by about a quarter as some sellers who lost goods left.
Russian authorities are preparing support measures. On August 10, the Bank of Russia recommended that banks support small and medium-sized enterprises affected by drone attacks.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak also instructed the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, and the Federal Tax Service, together with the Central Bank and business representatives, to prepare support measures for entrepreneurs affected by the strikes on Wildberries facilities.
Semko believes that it will be difficult for authorities to quickly develop a mechanism that would satisfy both sellers and the marketplace itself. According to his estimate, Wildberries holds about 45% of the Russian online trade market.
"The real question is more complex: is the government ready to participate in compensating sellers' losses and does it recognize its share of responsibility for the fact that these people's businesses were left without adequate protection," Semko said.