Belarus’ business owners seek government help after Wildberries warehouse fires in Russia

August 4, Pozirk. The Minsk City Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers has urged businesses and government agencies in a letter to the economy ministry to coordinate efforts to mitigate the impact of Wildberries warehouse fires in Russia on Belarusian companies.

The scale of the problem is “quite significant for the Belarusian economy,” the document said, noting that more than 22,000 Belarusian businesses currently store their products at Wildberries warehouses in Russia that have been targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks.

Earlier, the marketplace reportedly amended its public agreement with businesses, stipulating that sellers are not entitled to compensation for losses caused by circumstances beyond the company’s control.

However, Belarusian businesses argue that fires in Russia cannot be used as grounds to deny compensation because Belarusian sellers concluded contracts with a Belarus-registered legal entity of Wildberries.

The association asked the economy ministry to assess the situation, develop and implement a joint action plan to mitigate the impact on Belarusian businesses and work out mechanisms to influence the marketplace, including through diplomatic channels.

Ukraine has been regularly targeting Russia-based Wildberries warehouses since mid-July, noting that facilities handle dual-use goods and components for military equipment and therefore qualify as legitimate military targets.

The marketplace reportedly lost 17 percent of its warehouse space last month alone.

In February 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine in which the Belarusian authorities supported the Kremlin, allowing Russian troops to attack Ukraine from Belarus on multiple occasions and supplying arms to Moscow.