Wildberries Founder Issues Urgent Message for Small and Medium Businesses

Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim has issued a message via her official Telegram channel. “It has been almost two weeks since our company’s warehouses have been subject to terrorist attacks. Why our warehouses? Wildberries is a popular marketplace used by almost every resident of our country, as well as citizens from other countries. Therefore, the blows we receive are simultaneously strikes against hundreds of millions of people living in ten countries—our employees, sellers, producers, logistic partners, owners of order fulfillment points (OFUs), thousands of other entrepreneurs, performers, and buyers, including socially vulnerable individuals.

The attacks on Wildberries’ infrastructure are attacks against peaceful civilians. And I want to emphasize again—not just Russian citizens. Our ecosystem is home to tens of thousands of businesses from Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, and China. Entrepreneurs from these countries have also incurred billions in losses.

On the internet, I see discussions by “sofa experts” regarding the protection of our facilities, anti-aircraft defense, and other topics. I reiterate that our warehouses are equipped with all available means of protection. From the very first day of the attacks, we have been strengthening and fortifying the defense system daily, also employing engineering solutions. For understandable reasons, I cannot disclose details, but rest assured that we update our defense systems every day. The fact that we are managing to fend off most of the attacks is direct evidence of this, even under conditions where terrorists are increasing their firepower daily. For example, against the Yekaterinburg warehouse, where vehicles were set ablaze in the parking lot, more than 200 aircraft-type drones were unleashed.

Now I would like to talk about the fire safety of our facilities. Since the foundation of our unified company in 2024, we have completely revamped the fire safety systems of our warehouses. During these two years, we have established our own fire-fighting units, equipped all facilities with the most modern fire extinguishing systems, produced the necessary components ourselves, and regularly organized evacuation drills for our staff. About two thousand people ensure the fire safety of all our warehouses every day. The service is headed by a colonel from the internal service, a former employee of the Ministry of Emergencies with over 26 years of experience in firefighting.

This has allowed us and continues to allow us to ensure the safety of people in the warehouses, promptly localize fires, and preserve the integrity of our sellers’ goods whenever possible. At the same time, it should be understood that drones striking industrial facilities, oil refineries, or warehouses of marketplaces carry destructive elements to inflict harm on as many people as possible.

The terrorist attacks on our warehouses are considered circumstances of force majeure. The presence or absence of this point in contracts does not matter; therefore, by law, such damages are not subject to compensation. Unfortunately, there have been many scammers and lawyers on the internet attempting to profit from our shared misfortune, exploiting the situation and people's ignorance by offering their services to resolve issues. That is why I appeal to all our sellers. Dear colleagues, only trust official communication channels, our company, and the government. In the current situation, we can only help you and the state.

Now let me tell you about the steps we are undertaking. We have acted as representatives of the interests of small and medium businesses and already discussed comprehensive measures to support all affected entrepreneurs with the governmental authorities of the country. A unified system is currently under development, within which every affected party will receive assistance. In the coming days, the entire package of measures will be published.

While this system is being developed, we have already implemented supportive payments in two phases for the sellers whose goods were affected by the attacks. The second phase has included almost 100,000 representatives of small and medium businesses, many of whom have already received the corresponding payments. For our large partners, we have added a permanent buyer discount on their goods, provided credit holidays in our bank, and implemented a number of other support measures.

Next week, we plan to organize meetings with entrepreneurs from the most affected regions to address their urgent problems stemming from the situation specifically. I have already stated that we are rapidly rebuilding our logistics infrastructure, redistributing our partners’ goods among different logistics facilities to maintain their delivery speed and circulation. For your and your goods' safety reasons, I cannot disclose details, but rest assured that we are doing everything possible. We have never disappointed you and have always found solutions to every problem. I see no reason why the current situation should be an exception.

We have already received dozens of proposals regarding the rental of logistics capacities within Russia and beyond its borders, and some contracts have already been signed. Additionally, we will soon put into operation those facilities we have built in the countries where we operate.

By hitting us, terrorists are trying to obscure their real goals and accuse us of supposedly selling military goods. However, you can open any global marketplace—such as Amazon or Alibaba—and see whether there is any product with us that is not available there.

There is no logic, no sound reasoning, and no rationality in the actions of terrorists. The adversary has publicly declared that the attacks against Wildberries are aimed at ordinary citizens of Russia. Their sole purpose is to exert pressure, destabilize the situation, and generate panic and shock among a large number of people.

The only thing we can do right now is to approach the situation calmly, have a reorganization plan for the near future with the Russian entrepreneurial community, adapt, and transform. We entrepreneurs can do this as no one else can.

We see that this situation has united everyone; entrepreneurs, buyers, and business communities are joining forces to solve the problem together. We will do everything possible to help small and medium businesses overcome this challenging situation. Because Wildberries is you.

I want to thank everyone for their support. Together, we are stronger,” the statement says.