E-com Brief
Day at a glance
- The government (per Putin's instruction) will develop a warehouse/logistics restoration program with preferential loans and compensation, responding to drone strikes on Wildberries and other warehouses (Vedomosti, 8/20).
- RSPP proposed tax deferrals, preferential loans and credit deferrals for affected Wildberries sellers; the platform pulled damaged goods from sale and offers storage discounts and free transit (RBC, 8/20).
- An RSPP meeting discussed tax holidays, loan freezes and write-off of lost goods; the Central Bank backed the initiative and the proposal will go to the government (RBC, 8/20).
Logistics & Customs
Vladimir Putin instructed the cabinet to develop a program to restore warehouse and logistics facilities damaged by drone strikes; preferential loans and compensation for repair/construction costs are expected. Mostly Wildberries warehouses were hit, some (e.g. Samara region) burned down completely; total area and damage not yet disclosed.
The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) proposed additional support for entrepreneurs whose goods were damaged in attacks on RVB (Wildberries + Russ) warehouses: tax breaks and deferrals of credit obligations via the operator's financial services and partner banks. Goods from damaged warehouses were temporarily pulled from sale; financial aid, storage discounts, free transit shipments and credit deferrals are in place.
Policy & Compliance
An RSPP digital-platform committee meeting discussed lowering/freezing the tax burden on affected sellers (tax deferrals and installments), preferential lending, a loan-repayment moratorium, lighter admin inspections, and writing off the value of lost goods as expenses. The head of the Digital Platforms Association said the Central Bank already supported the tax-holiday initiative; the proposal will go to the government.
Cross-border & Payments
Bank of Russia official rate: 1 CNY = 12.4057 RUB (effective 21.08.2026). Reference for cross-border sellers calculating proceeds and pricing. Note: listed as a reference, not an 20.08 news event.