Wildberries is set to land in St. Petersburg within the next two to three weeks, with plans for a new sorting center in the city. This update came from Viktor Evtukhov, deputy head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, during a broadcast on the TV channel Russia 24. The announcement aligns with broader efforts to streamline how goods move from sellers to customers, reflecting a shift in the North-West region’s logistics landscape.
Evtukhov explained that the market is actively restructuring supply chains to shorten delivery times and improve order fulfillment for shoppers. The goal is to ensure products move swiftly from sellers to desks and doorsteps, signaling a push toward faster, more reliable service across the region and beyond. This restructuring is part of a larger national initiative to bolster efficiency in e-commerce and retail logistics.
According to the ministry representative, the new St. Petersburg sorting center is expected to begin operations within two to three weeks. The facility will process and route goods from local entrepreneurs in the North-West and neighboring areas, acting as a critical hub in the distribution network and helping to centralize inventory management, sorting, and dispatch for faster delivery timelines.
Evtukhov also noted that Wildberries has provided compensation to a substantial number of affected entrepreneurs following incidents that impacted goods in transit or storage. The ministry’s comments highlighted a commitment to supporting businesses through disruption and ensuring that rightful claims are addressed as operations stabilize.
Earlier, a large-scale fire erupted at Wildberries’ warehouse in the Shushary district of St. Petersburg, an event that prompted emergency responses and a broader review of safety and risk management. The initial flames covered about 1,000 square meters and later expanded to tens of thousands of square meters, prompting the evacuation of thousands of workers. Investigators opened a criminal case in connection with the fire, underscoring the severity of the incident and the ongoing examination of its causes and impact within the logistics sector.
As the situation unfolded, authorities and safety bodies coordinated with Wildberries and related parties to assess damage, manage recovery steps, and prevent future incidents. The fire highlighted the vulnerabilities involved in large-scale warehousing and the critical importance of resilient infrastructure to support a growing e-commerce environment. In the wake of the incident, the Ministry of Emergency Situations requested a joint review of Wildberries and Ozon facilities to ensure comprehensive safety standards and preparedness across the sector. [citation: Investigative Committee of Russia; Ministry of Emergency Situations]