Wildberries Hides Military Goods in Search Results After Ukrainian Attacks
Wildberries, Russia’s biggest online retailer, has begun to conceal military-related goods from specific search terms following a series of Ukrainian strikes on seven of its warehouses starting on July 18. Kyiv has stated that these attacks were aimed at disrupting Russian military supply chains. In response, the company now avoids showing items like bulletproof vests and fiber-optic cables used in drones when users search for terms like 'everything for the SVO' and 'SVO.' These phrases refer to the Russian invasion, which the Kremlin calls a 'special military operation.' Previously, such searches revealed over 200,000 products.
Although these items are no longer shown under those specific search terms, they are still accessible in other sections. Bulletproof vests, for example, are listed in the 'Sport' category, while searches for 'goods for SVO' or 'SVO accessories' yield results like military first-aid kits, radios, and components for FPV drones. The Myrotvorets project, an online watchdog tracking anti-Ukrainian activities, shared a screenshot showing that military helmets were once among the results. This indicates a partial change in how Wildberries is managing sensitive searches during the war.
The Ukrainian attacks on Wildberries’ warehouses were concentrated in key locations like St. According to reports, the strikes caused billions of dollars in damage to the company. Wildberries, often compared to Amazon in terms of market size, controls nearly half of Russia’s online retail market. In July, the company also faced EU sanctions due to its financial ties to the Russian government. As the conflict in Ukraine continues to escalate, the targeting of infrastructure like this highlights the impact on businesses with national and global reach.
Wildberries has become a central player in Russia's consumer economy, and the ongoing strikes threaten not just its physical assets but also its role as a major supplier. The company's response to these pressures, including the removal of certain military items from specific searches, reflects both strategic adjustments and the broader pressures of the war. Its role in supporting the Russian military through dual-use products remains significant, even as it tries to adapt to new realities.
