A shooting incident occurred at the headquarters of Russian online retailer Wildberries in Moscow, resulting in two deaths, several injuries, and nearly 30 arrests. The incident was initiated by an armed group of men led by Vladislav Bakalchuk, the ex-husband of Wildberries founder Tatiana Bakalchuk, who attempted to forcibly enter the building. An altercation ensued, leading to gunshots and injuries to two police officers as well.
Vladislav Bakalchuk claimed that he and his team were attacked when they arrived at the Wildberries headquarters for negotiations to stop the construction of a warehouse. However, Tatiana Bakalchuk, Russia’s wealthiest woman, disputed this claim, stating that no such talks were arranged and that her ex-husband attempted to seize the company’s office in Moscow. She called the incident an attempted hostile takeover, which fortunately was unsuccessful.
The shooting incident at Wildberries comes amid tensions surrounding the company following a merger with Russ Group that formed a new digital trading platform named RWB. The deal has been criticized in business news media for appearing to be a merger between equal partners, even though Wildberries is significantly larger than Russ Group in terms of revenue. Speculation has arisen that the RWB merger may be part of Russia’s ongoing redistribution of assets favoring Kremlin-linked business figures.
The personal fallout between Tatiana and Vladislav Bakalchuk escalated after their divorce in July, with Vladislav seeking the support of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, claiming he was facing a hostile takeover of the company. Kadyrov expressed opposition to the merger, despite President Vladimir Putin’s support for the deal between Russ Group and Wildberries. Three MMA fighters connected to a fighting club founded by Kadyrov were reportedly among the group of men involved in the shooting incident at Wildberries.
Law enforcement authorities are investigating the shooting incident at Wildberries, where two security guards were killed and several individuals were injured. With tensions fueling the ongoing dispute between Tatiana and Vladislav Bakalchuk, the motives behind the incident are subject to scrutiny. The conflicting claims between the former spouses and their differing perspectives on the events leading up to the shooting point to a complex and contentious situation that has escalated beyond a mere business dispute. As the investigation unfolds, more details are expected to surface regarding the parties involved and the circumstances surrounding the violent altercation at the Wildberries headquarters.
