Russia’s Wildberries will not reimburse sellers for the cost of goods destroyed by Ukrainian drones
23 July 19:08
Sellers on the Russian marketplace Wildberries may not receive compensation for goods destroyed as a result of Ukrainian drone strikes on the company’s logistics centers.
In an updated terms of service posted shortly before the strikes, the marketplace provided for exemption from liability for the loss or damage of goods due to force majeure, which included, in particular, the use of drones, military equipment, and explosions, reports "Komersant Ukrainian".
The new version of Wildberries’ agreement with sellers took effect on July 7—11 days before the attack on the logistics centers. In the updated terms, the company stipulated that it is not liable for the loss or damage of goods if they resulted from force majeure circumstances. Wildberries included in this list, among other things, the use or crash of military equipment and aircraft—including drones—as well as shelling and explosions.
In the previous version of the agreement, UAVs and other weapons were not specifically mentioned. Wildberries stated that the changes merely clarify the existing provisions on force majeure and do not create new grounds for exempting the marketplace from liability. At the same time, the company did not explain exactly how sellers should proceed in the event that their goods are destroyed in warehouses due to an attack.
Watch us on YouTube: important topics – without censorship
Following the strikes, Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim announced the temporary removal from sale of goods that were located at the affected facilities. She promised to provide additional information later but made no mention of compensation for the owners of the destroyed goods. According to preliminary estimates, the warehouses may have contained thousands or tens of thousands of shipments of goods belonging to Russian entrepreneurs, particularly small and medium-sized businesses. This could result in significant financial losses for sellers if the marketplace does not compensate them for the value of the destroyed goods.
As is known, Wildberries’ logistics facilities in Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, and Kotovsk, Tambov Oblast, were recently targeted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Large-scale fires broke out at the warehouses, resulting in the destruction of significant quantities of both industrial goods and food products.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated earlier that the attacked logistics facilities were being used to supply sanctioned components for the production of drones and navigation equipment.
Russian retailers are reviewing their inventory storage systems
The attacks on Wildberries’ logistics facilities have also forced major Russian grocery chains to assess the risks to their own infrastructure. According to Bloomberg, companies have begun considering the possibility of decentralizing their warehouses and inventory to minimize potential losses and avoid large-scale disruptions in the event of new attacks.
In particular, X5 Retail Group and Lenta are exploring the possibility of storing inventory at a greater number of facilities. One of the largest grocery chains is considering a shift from large distribution centers ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 square meters to a broader network of regional warehouses ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 square meters. This approach is intended to reduce the companies’ dependence on individual large logistics hubs. If one warehouse is lost, the business will be able to continue operating thanks to inventory at other facilities.
Russian companies are also considering the construction of distribution centers consisting of separate blocks with enhanced fire and explosion resistance. Another option is to use retail stores as local order fulfillment centers. In addition, retailers may change their approach to inventory management—storing most of their products with suppliers and moving them to their own logistics network immediately before demand arises.
According to Bloomberg Economics, systematic strikes on logistics centers could force Russian companies to disperse their inventory, create redundant capacity, and increase security costs.
Read us on Telegram: important topics – without censorship
