Another morning of fire in Russia: Zelensky targets online retail giant Ozon
After striking 24 facilities of Wildberries, known as the "Russian Amazon," Ukraine has declared the e-commerce giant Ozon its next target. Since Saturday, drone strikes have hit 6 of the company's warehouses, causing shares to plummet by 12%. Putin warned that Ukraine has opened a "Pandora's box" and vowed retaliation against sensitive Ukrainian economic sectors.
Ukraine marked its 35th Independence Day this Monday with a fresh drone attack on the warehouses of the Russian online retail giant Ozon, the latest target in a campaign to undermine the Russian economy and the sense of security enjoyed by Vladimir Putin's citizens. Footage from the Makhachkala district in Dagestan shows a warehouse engulfed in flames, and the company has confirmed the temporary closure of other facilities in the Caucasus region.
In recent months, Ukraine has been conducting what it describes as a campaign to bring the war to the Russian home front. By targeting oil facilities and commodity warehouses, Kyiv aims to disrupt the Russian economy and strike at supply chains allegedly used to transfer military equipment to the front lines. This follows weeks of systematic attacks on at least 24 giant warehouses belonging to Wildberries, dubbed the "Russian Amazon," which resulted in billions of dollars in damages.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense officially announced the operation against Ozon on Saturday, stating, "After Ukrainian units hit the 15 largest logistics centers of Wildberries, now it is Ozon's turn." Strikes have since been reported in the Samara and Orenburg regions, the Krasnodar Territory, and the suburbs of Saint Petersburg. Ozon reports that six of its facilities have been hit to date.
Russian President Vladimir Putin previously promised government assistance to rehabilitate damaged logistics centers. However, on Saturday, he issued a stern warning, stating that by attacking these warehouses and oil facilities, Ukraine has opened a "Pandora's box." He vowed that Moscow would respond by striking Ukraine's most sensitive economic sectors.
Following the attacks, Ozon's shares on the Moscow Stock Exchange plummeted by 12%, while shares of its parent company, AFK Sistema, fell by nearly 13%. The escalation in drone warfare is also taking a heavy toll on civilians. Russia reported that an overnight barrage of over 350 drones resulted in the deaths of two children in Krasnodar, with seven other children and two adults wounded. Ukraine claimed it successfully hit two Russian MiG-29 fighter jets and two vessels in the Black Sea.
As Ukraine celebrates its 35th Independence Day, several European leaders arrived in Kyiv, including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and European Council President António Costa. Additionally, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new 6.1 million euro aid package to support Ukraine's defense, specifically for missile defense systems, ammunition, and radars.
