(MOSCOW AND SAINT PETERSBURG) – Major fires have destroyed two vast Wildberries logistics hubs near the Russian capital and Saint Petersburg, marking the 14th such incident in just over a fortnight and costing the company billions of dollars.
The blazes, which erupted simultaneously, hit facilities on the outskirts of Moscow and in the hometown of the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. For millions of Russians now living in conflict zones, these two cities were seen as the last symbols of security and stability. Reports had previously touted three concentric circles of air defence around the capital, yet these systems have proven incapable of protecting critical civilian logistics centres from attack.
This latest incident brings the total number of Wildberries hubs destroyed over the past 17 days to 14. The cumulative financial damage is estimated in the billions of US dollars. Footage released by the company and circulating on social media shows the enormous complexes fully engulfed in flames, sending plumes of black smoke over the regions.
The fires represent a severe blow to Russia’s largest online retailer, crippling its supply chain and distribution network across the west of the country.
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