Wildberries says Ukraine’s drone strikes are force majeure. Does that actually get the marketplace off the hook in Russia?

Key Points:

• Ukrainian forces struck 11 Wildberries logistics warehouses between July 18 and 29, causing significant stock losses and fires, with sellers facing millions of rubles in damages and receiving insufficient compensation from the marketplace.
• Legally, Wildberries is responsible for safekeeping goods in its warehouses unless damage is caused by force majeure; however, recent contract changes classify drone attacks as force majeure, releasing Wildberries from liability for losses incurred after July 7, complicating sellers' compensation claims.
• Insurance options covering drone attacks exist but are limited and costly; many policies exclude military actions as force majeure, making it difficult for sellers to insure goods stored in marketplace warehouses effectively.
• Sellers are advised to avoid storing all inventory in Wildberries warehouses, instead using their own or multiple storage locations to mitigate risks, and should meticulously document losses and pursue compensation claims, potentially through courts if necessary.
• Russian authorities and industry groups are discussing new regulations and support measures, including requiring marketplaces to insure goods against war-related risks and creating compensation funds, but no concrete legislative changes or sufficient state support have yet been implemented.