A Blow to Silpo, Rozetka, Epicenter, and Nova Poshta: How Ukrainian Businesses Survived the Nightmare of August 5
On the night of August 5, major companies across the country were forced to endure a single, hellish rhythm: sirens, massive fires, the evacuation of employees, and acrid smoke rising from burning hangars in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Brovary. The massive shelling resulted not only in millions in losses and the destruction of production facilities, but also in irreparable human casualties among civilian workers.
The missile strikes united Ukrainian businesses through shared pain, the soot of fires, and the ruins of what were, just yesterday, the flagships of the retail and logistics industries. They also united the business community through solidarity and an unwavering determination to continue operations—and to do so in a way that ensures customers and consumers do not experience any disruptions.
In their official statements, companies are assessing the extent of the damage, rerouting logistics flows, and emphasizing the most important point: human life comes first, and destroyed buildings and goods will be rebuilt.
Statements from Ukrainian companies that found themselves at the epicenter of yet another war crime committed by the Russian Federation.
“Silpo”
- Targets: Two distribution centers.
- Casualties: Six employees were killed. Information on the number of wounded is being verified.
Official company statement: Dear Guests! Unfortunately, we have tragic news.
Today’s Russian shelling caused fires at two of our distribution centers. According to the latest reports, six employees were killed. Information regarding the number of injured is still being verified. This is an unspeakable loss for all of us. We are in constant contact with the victims’ loved ones and are ready to provide all necessary assistance.
We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have died.
Nova Poshta
- Target: Sorting center in Kyiv (attacked with cluster munitions).
- Casualties: Three fatalities (two drivers from a partner carrier and one employee of a subcontractor). Eight people were injured.
Official company statement: “The enemy has once again committed a war crime against the civilian population. Nova Poshta will compensate customers for the full declared value of the damaged shipments. Over the years of the war, we have built a resilient operational system that allows us to ensure business continuity even under the most challenging conditions. We are currently assessing the consequences of the enemy’s attack. Nova Poshta will compensate customers for the full declared value of the damaged shipments and will contact each customer to provide details regarding the reimbursement. The current status of shipments and their tracking information are available in the mobile app and on the company’s official website.”
ROZETKA
- Target: A distribution and warehouse complex in Brovary (Kyiv Oblast). The facility was struck by three ballistic missiles and completely destroyed. This is the third attack on the company’s infrastructure in a week.
- Casualties: Staff were in shelters; no one was injured.
- Extent of damage: The company’s largest and most automated hub, which processed over 100,000 orders per day, was destroyed. The strike occurred on the 21st anniversary of the brand’s founding.
ROZETKA co-founder Kateryna Chechotkina: “Today I was supposed to post about ROZETKA turning 21... Instead, last night I watched as the work of my entire life went up in flames after three ballistic missiles struck. How did I feel last night? Devastation and pain. Great relief, because fortunately, no one was hurt this time. A sense that I have to keep going despite everything. ROZETKA is still up and running.”
Biosphere Corporation (manufacturer of the “Freken BOK,” Smile, and Selpak brands)
- Target: A 20,000-square-meter warehouse complex in Dnipro (attacked by enemy drones).
- Consequences of the strike: Due to a massive fire, the warehouse was completely destroyed, along with a large volume of finished products and part of the logistics facilities.
- Casualties: Staff followed safety protocols and remained in shelters—no one was injured.
Andriy Zdesenko, founder of the Biosphere Corporation: “In a matter of hours, we lost a significant volume of products and part of our logistics capabilities. It’s impossible to be fully prepared for something like this. At the same time, we had worked through various response scenarios in advance, including the loss of a single logistics facility.
Right now, the team and top management are working around the clock to reorganize our logistics, reallocate inventory, and ensure a stable supply of products to our partners and consumers.
For us, this is not just a matter of operational resilience. It is a responsibility to the people who choose our products every day, and to our partners... We continue to work.”
NOVUS
- Target: A logistics center for a supermarket chain (this is the second strike on the facility). A large-scale fire broke out at the site, causing the logistics center to cease operations entirely.
- Casualties: No fatalities or injuries—the team took shelter in time.
Official company statement: “The extent of the damage is still being assessed. Cleanup efforts following the attack and fire are still underway at the site. NOVUS expresses its boundless gratitude to the State Emergency Service rescuers for their courage and tireless work, as well as to all colleagues for their resilience.
We extend our sincere condolences to the families of all those killed and injured as a result of today’s massive attack. Recently, we have been reading news almost daily about destroyed businesses, warehouses, production facilities, and loss of life. Today, this pain has once again touched our company.
The team is already working on redistributing inventory to ensure that stores continue to be supplied with everything they need. We are doing everything possible to ensure that our customers do not feel the effects of this attack.”
“Epicenter”
- Targets: The logistics center on Viskozna Street in Kyiv (completely destroyed), the logistics and production complex in Kalynivka, and the “Epicentr Ceramic Corporation” plant. Twenty employees’ private cars were burned.
- Casualties: One employee was killed, and three were injured.
- Consequences of the strike: As a result of a direct missile strike, one of Ukraine’s largest ceramic tile manufacturing facilities (“Epicentr Ceramic Corporation”) was completely destroyed. The company was forced to quickly relocate production to its two facilities abroad to prevent shortages and fulfill its obligations. Reconstruction of the plant in Ukraine will take between 1.5 and 2 years.
Official statement from the company: “In a matter of minutes, Russian missiles destroyed what the company had been building for decades. One of our employees was killed—a young man with his whole life ahead of him...
A powerful explosion effectively destroyed the plant, making it impossible for the facility to continue operations. Production at the Epicentr Ceramic Corporation plant has been completely halted. To prevent product shortages and ensure uninterrupted supply, production will first be transferred to two of the company’s facilities abroad. At the same time, we are beginning preparations to launch production at another facility in Ukraine.”
PUMA Ukraine
- Target: A logistics complex containing the brand’s merchandise in Kyiv (completely destroyed).
- Casualties: The PUMA team was not harmed.
- Impact on consumers: The company warns that there may be shortages of certain PUMA products in Ukraine in the coming weeks and months; however, the operations team is already working to restore supplies from other hubs.
Official company statement: “As a result of the massive shelling of Kyiv on the night of August 5, the logistics complex containing PUMA merchandise was completely destroyed... In the coming weeks and, likely, months, there may be a shortage of certain products in Ukraine, but we are already working to restore supplies.”
LIQUI MOLY Ukraine
- Business: German brand; distribution of motor oils, lubricants, and automotive chemicals.
- Target: Central product warehouse in Ukraine (completely destroyed by fire).
- Casualties: Employees are safe; no one was injured.
- Extent of losses: Tons of finished products were lost; however, the company is already establishing new delivery routes from Europe to resume supplying automotive chemicals and oils to partners and customers as quickly as possible.
Official company statement: “The enemy destroyed tons of products, but it cannot destroy our team, our reputation, or our faith in Ukraine. We are not stopping for a single moment.
The LIQUI MOLY team is already working to restore supplies. We are regrouping, establishing new delivery routes, and will do everything possible to ensure our partners and customers receive the oils, lubricants, and automotive chemicals they need as quickly as possible.”
“Toyota Ukraine”
- Field of activity: Official distributor of Toyota vehicles, spare parts, and related products in Ukraine.
- Target: The spare parts and related products warehouse of Toyota-Ukraine LLC.
- Impact on consumers: There may be temporary delays in the delivery of certain spare parts, accessories, lubricants, and other products to the dealer network. The company has already implemented alternative logistics solutions.
Official company statement: “As a result of a hostile attack on the night of August 4–5, the spare parts and accessories warehouse of Toyota Ukraine was destroyed... Our team is already implementing a set of measures to restore logistics processes and ensure a stable supply of products to the Toyota dealer network in Ukraine. Alternative logistics solutions have been implemented to minimize the impact on our customer service.”
Overall consequences of the enemy strike on the night of August 5
Last night’s massive shelling was one of the most brutal attacks on Ukraine’s civilian and economic infrastructure in recent times. According to monitoring channels and official sources, the enemy fired 24 ballistic missiles, 4 “Zircon”/“Onyx” missiles, and 115 drones (a significant portion of which were jet-powered) at the country’s territory.
The brunt of the attack fell on Kyiv and the Kyiv region. As of this morning, at least 17 people had been killed as a result of the shelling (14 in the Kyiv region and 1 in the capital). More than 44 others sustained injuries of varying severity.
According to monitoring sources, in Brovary in particular, nearly all warehouses and logistics complexes were destroyed as a result of direct hits and large-scale fires.
Russia’s economic terror has affected facilities belonging to a number of leading national and international brands:
- Fozzy Group (including the “Silpo” supermarket chain)
- ROZETKA
- “Epicenter”
- “Nova Poshta”
- NOVUS
- PUMA Ukraine
- "Biosfera" Corporation (manufacturer of the "Freken BOK" and "Smile" brands)
- INTERTOP
- LIQUI MOLY Ukraine
- BROKBRIDGE
- Plastmas Plant
- Raben Ukraine Logistics Company
- Eurobeton
- Toyota Ukraine FDI
Despite the loss of property, critical production capacity, and most importantly, human lives, Ukrainian businesses continue to operate, hold the economic front, and provide the country with everything it needs.
