Ukraine's Drone Campaign Brings the War to Russia's Consumer Economy

For years, Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries, symbolised the country's rapidly expanding digital economy. Founded in 2004 by former English teacher Tatyana Kim and her husband, the company grew from a small family business operating out of a Moscow apartment into Russia's equivalent of Amazon. Today, it processes roughly 20 million orders every day, supports millions of jobs, and has become a cornerstone of what the Kremlin describes as the country's "platform economy." Now, however, it has found itself caught up in the war.

Over the past week, Ukraine has carried out a series of drone strikes against four Wildberries warehouses, marking a significant expansion of its campaign against Russian logistics infrastructure. Ukrainian officials argue that these facilities are not merely commercial warehouses but logistics hubs that help supply Russian forces with drone components and other military equipment. By targeting them, Kyiv hopes to wear down Russia's military capabilities while increasing the economic cost of continuing the war.

Russia rejects this explanation, insisting that the attacks are intended to stir up public anxiety and disrupt everyday life. Because millions of Russians depend on online retailers for clothing, medicine, electronics, and household goods, damage to major distribution centres could delay deliveries, interrupt businesses, and affect countless consumers far from the battlefield.

Wildberries itself has become a remarkable business success story. Tatyana Kim transformed a modest start-up into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise and is now regarded as Russia's wealthiest woman. Despite surviving a highly publicised corporate dispute and divorce, she has continued to build up the company through partnerships with major financial institutions and ambitious expansion projects.

The latest attacks illustrate how modern warfare increasingly extends beyond traditional military targets. Rather than taking on frontline forces alone, Ukraine is attempting to strike back at Russia by disrupting the infrastructure that supports its economy and military logistics. At the same time, Russia continues to fight back through strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, with both sides seeking strategic advantages while trying to avoid actions that could set off an even broader conflict.

As the war evolves, businesses that once seemed far removed from the battlefield are becoming increasingly difficult to keep out of the conflict. The campaign against Wildberries demonstrates that in modern warfare, commercial networks can become just as strategically significant as military bases, blurring the distinction between economic and military targets.

War-Related Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Definition	Example
caught up in	To become unintentionally involved in a conflict	Civilians were caught up in the fighting.
carry out	To perform or execute an attack or operation	The military carried out several drone strikes overnight.
wear down	To gradually weaken an opponent	Sanctions were designed to wear down the country's economy.
stir up	To provoke or create unrest	The attacks stirred up public fear across the region.
build up	To increase or strengthen gradually	Both sides built up their military capabilities.
take on	To confront a stronger opponent	The rebels refused to take on government forces directly.
strike back at	To retaliate after being attacked	Ukraine struck back at key logistics centres.
fight back	To resist or retaliate	The defending forces fought back despite heavy losses.
set off	To trigger or cause something to begin	One mistake could set off a wider regional war.
keep out of	To avoid becoming involved	Businesses are finding it impossible to keep out of the conflict.

Vocabulary Worksheet

Part A – Match the Vocabulary

Match each word with its definition.

1. Ubiquitous

2. Logistics

3. Infrastructure

4. Disruption

5. Sanctions

6. Expansion

7. Enterprise

8. Cornerstone

9. Adapt

10. Retaliation

Definitions

A. Punishment through economic restrictions

B. A business or company

C. Basic systems needed for society to function

D. To adjust to new circumstances

E. A response to an attack

F. Found everywhere

G. Growth or enlargement

H. The movement and management of goods

I. An interruption to normal activity

J. An essential or fundamental part

Part B – Complete the Sentences

Choose the correct phrasal verb.

1. The military __________ several drone attacks overnight.

2. Both countries continued to __________ after weeks of fighting.

3. The bombing threatened to __________ a larger conflict.

4. The government hoped economic pressure would __________ its opponent.

5. The company became __________ the conflict despite being a civilian business.

Discussion Questions

1. Why might Ukraine choose to target logistics hubs instead of military bases?

2. Should commercial infrastructure ever be considered a legitimate military target?

3. How has technology changed the nature of modern warfare?

4. Why are online marketplaces so important to Russia's economy?

5. How do wars affect ordinary people who are far from the front lines?

6. What responsibilities do large companies have during times of war?

Critical Thinking Questions

1. Does attacking economic infrastructure shorten wars by weakening an opponent, or does it mainly increase civilian suffering?

2. Where should international law draw the line between civilian and military targets when commercial companies also support military logistics?

3. Can a successful economy become a strategic vulnerability during wartime? Why or why not?

4. How might repeated attacks on businesses influence public opinion about a war?

5. In modern conflicts, which is more valuable: controlling territory or disrupting an opponent's economy? Support your answer with historical or contemporary examples.