Speaking at the Business Russia forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow had begun launching retaliatory strikes after, as he claimed, the Ukrainian side carried out attacks on major Russian e-commerce platforms — Wildberries and Ozon. The head of state emphasized that Kyiv "should have considered the serious consequences of its actions" before proceeding with strikes against digital infrastructure facilities used by the civilian population. The statement came against the backdrop of an ongoing escalation of clashes between the two sides, which, according to Putin's assessment, has extended beyond the traditional frontline and energy sector.
Attacks on Digital Platforms and Moscow's Reaction
In his speech to the participants of the Business Russia forum, Vladimir Putin characterized the situation as the result of targeted actions by the adversary aimed at e-commerce giants. "We have faced actions by the adversary directed against our electronic platforms — both Wildberries and Ozon," he stated. According to the president, Moscow believed that the Ukrainian side "would not go that far," but in his estimation, Kyiv "decided to do it anyway." Putin added that after Russia initiated retaliatory measures, the Ukrainian side "immediately runs to their patrons and starts begging them to influence us and stop this."
Parallels with Energy and Oil Refinery Strikes
The Russian president drew a direct parallel between the attacks on marketplaces and previously delivered strikes on energy infrastructure. He reported that "yesterday and today there were attempts to strike certain oil refineries and facilities," which, according to him, "did not cause serious damage," though such attacks, in his estimation, do not stop. Putin also mentioned data centers, noting that "the situation with e-commerce platforms is the same: they made the first move, and we started responding."
Harsh Conclusion and Warning
Concluding his speech at the forum, Vladimir Putin formulated a sharp warning: "They started this themselves. They shouldn't have started it. Before taking this step, they should have thought carefully about what consequences it would lead to." Thus, the head of the Russian state publicly recorded the transition of the conflict into a new phase affecting not only military and energy infrastructure, but also the civilian digital environment, including server centers and e-commerce platforms used daily by millions of consumers.
Broader Context of Escalation
Putin's statements came at a time when, according to Ukrainian authorities, Russia continues to use foreign technologies for the production of missiles used in strikes across Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week called on international partners to completely cut off Russia's access to missile production components, noting that only about half of the involved companies are under sanctions. Against the background of these mutual statements and ongoing infrastructure strikes from both sides, the Russian president's statements regarding the transition to retaliatory actions in the digital sector signal a further expansion of the geography and nature of the conflict.
