From August 22 to 24, logistics facilities operated by major Russian e-commerce platform Ozon were affected by a series of drone attacks. Six facilities were affected within three days, with some catching fire and suspending operations as employees were evacuated. Over the previous month, several logistics facilities operated by another Russian e-commerce company, Wildberries, had also been attacked. As the attacks expand, operational risks facing Russia’s e-commerce warehousing and logistics network are increasing.

Key Highlights 

• Six facilities affected: Six Ozon logistics facilities were affected by attacks over three consecutive days. 

• Operations suspended: Some facilities caught fire and suspended operations, increasing the amount of warehousing space affected. 

• Emergency adjustments: Ozon has adjusted transportation and fulfillment arrangements for affected goods. 

• Wildberries warehouse fire: A further 100,000 square meters of Wildberries warehouse space was recently affected by fire.

Six Ozon Logistics Facilities Affected in Three Days

On August 22, Ozon’s logistics center in Chapayevsk, Samara Oblast, was attacked and suspended operations. A logistics facility in Orenburg Oblast was affected on August 23. On August 24, another four facilities were involved in related incidents. They were located in Makhachkala in the Republic of Dagestan, Enem in Krasnodar Krai, Adygeysk in the Republic of Adygea, and Nevinnomyssk in Stavropol Krai.

Fires broke out at the facilities in Makhachkala and Enem, while employees were evacuated from the facilities in Adygeysk and Nevinnomyssk. Ozon introduced emergency measures for affected goods, including rerouting shipments and arranging free transfers of affected inventory. It also temporarily adjusted certain fees and fulfillment rules. According to Reuters, Ozon shares fell by nearly 30% at one point on the Moscow Exchange on August 24 as the market reacted quickly to the operational and financial impact of the attacks.

Public reports indicate that several of the affected Ozon sites were large warehousing facilities. The logistics center in Chapayevsk, Samara Oblast, had a total floor area of approximately 135,000 square meters, while the logistics facilities in Dagestan and other regions were also large. Satellite imagery and media reports indicate that the attacks have had a noticeable impact on Russia’s e-commerce warehousing network.

File photo of a pickup point operated by Russian e-commerce platform Ozon in Moscow. 

Xinhua/AFP

Risks to Russian E-Commerce Warehouses Expand from Wildberries to Ozon

Ozon is not the only Russian e-commerce platform affected in recent weeks. Since mid-July, several Wildberries logistics facilities across Russia have been hit by drone attacks, with some catching fire and suspending operations. Wildberries previously said that seven of its ten largest logistics centers had been hit and that more than 22 warehouses had been struck, affecting approximately 2.395 million square meters of warehouse space.

On August 26, another large Wildberries logistics center in Russia’s Tambov Oblast was hit by a drone attack and caught fire. Russian regional officials said the fire affected approximately 100,000 square meters. The logistics center was ultimately destroyed, and injuries were reported. Reuters reported that the incident was the latest case in the continuing expansion of attacks on Russia’s e-commerce logistics infrastructure.

The affected sites are no longer limited to a single company or warehouse but now include logistics facilities across several Russian regions. If regional logistics hubs continue to be affected, e-commerce companies, warehouse operators, and cross-border logistics providers may need to make temporary adjustments to cargo distribution, line-haul transportation, and last-mile delivery.

Security Risks at Logistics Facilities Draw Greater Attention

Recent drone attacks have not been limited to e-commerce warehouses. As the Russia–Ukraine conflict continues, energy, industrial, transportation, and other infrastructure deeper inside Russia also face the risk of drone attacks. Ukraine has linked operations targeting Wildberries, Ozon, and other logistics facilities to Russia’s war economy and logistics system. However, the parties do not fully agree on whether the specific facilities had related military uses.

On August 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing the government, under certain circumstances, to place critical infrastructure that lacks adequate protection and faces threats from drones or similar attacks under temporary administration. The decree covers the energy, industrial, transportation, communications, and logistics sectors. The measure indicates that Russian authorities are giving greater attention to security risks affecting logistics and other critical infrastructure.

For e-commerce platforms, warehouse operators, and cross-border logistics providers, the immediate concerns extend beyond whether an individual warehouse can continue operating. Companies also need to monitor whether goods must be redistributed, transportation routes must be adjusted, and regional warehousing capacity remains affected. As the risk of drone attacks extends further into Russia, the country’s logistics network continues to face a high degree of operational uncertainty.

Sources and Disclaimer 

Sources include publicly available media reports and industry information. This article is provided solely for industry reference. Specific information remains subject to the latest disclosures from official and authoritative sources.