In Wake of Strike, Wildberries Eliminates 'All for SMO' Tag, Leaving Sellers Uncompensated.

Wildberries and Its Handling of Military Goods

According to Espreso.tv: Wildberries is one of Russia’s largest e-commerce platforms, and its 'SMO' tag (short for 'Special Military Operation') previously grouped over 200,000 items aimed at supporting the country’s military campaign in Ukraine. After recent warehouse fires and attacks caused massive financial losses, the company removed that tag from its search system. However, military-related products remain available under other categories like 'Sports' and 'TV, Audio, Photo, Video Equipment'.

Company founder Tatyana Kim announced that Wildberries is not legally required to reimburse sellers for goods destroyed in the fires.

'Even though we face an emergency and have no obligation to compensate for lost inventory, we are already working out payment amounts for sellers and considering other financial support measures,' Kim said.

Financial Losses and Warehouse Attacks

Sellers’ combined losses from the warehouse fires are estimated between 250 and 355 billion rubles. On the night of June 16, Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck a Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal, causing severe damage. Initial estimates of total losses from that destruction exceeded 100 billion rubles, later rising to over 180 billion rubles.

• The company began making initial payments to sellers on July 22–23.
• Affected entrepreneurs received a three-month loan deferral from 'WB Bank' and 'MKK WB Finance'.

Meanwhile, on July 22, drones attacked Wildberries warehouses in occupied Simferopol and near St. Petersburg, further complicating operations for the company and its partners.

The removal of the 'All for SMO' tag may reflect attempts by the company to adapt its business in a challenging environment, given growing financial losses and shifting demand. At the same time, efforts to overhaul logistics and provide financial support could help Wildberries maintain its market position despite external pressures. However, continued warehouse attacks highlight rising risks for businesses in the region, potentially threatening the company’s future stability.