Two days before the start of school, 16-year-old David Zelensky was working an evening shift at an Ozon e-commerce warehouse in Belgorod, Russia, when a missile struck the facility, killing him along with a 21-year-old college student and critically injuring another 16-year-old. David, who was deaf and communicated by writing on his phone, was among several young workers caught in the attack on August 30.
The missile hit came after air raid sirens sounded and an apparent rocket interception caused an explosion. Workers scrambled to reach a shelter, but the missile impact caused walls and metal shelving to collapse, igniting a fire that engulfed part of the warehouse. A co-worker who survived described the sudden loss as difficult to process, having seen colleagues alive moments before the strike.
The attack in Belgorod is part of a series of strikes targeting Russia’s two largest e-commerce companies, Ozon and Wildberries, as Ukraine has intensified efforts against facilities it alleges support the Russian military. Ukraine has justified the strikes by stating the warehouses distribute components that repair Russian military drones and provide protective gear for troops. Russian officials and Wildberries’ leadership, including CEO Tatyana Makeyeva, have condemned the attacks as terrorist acts targeting civilians. Through early September, such strikes reportedly resulted in 12 deaths and 135 injuries among warehouse employees, according to the Conflict Intelligence Team, an open-source group monitoring civilian casualties in the conflict.
For many Russian workers, the threat has been sudden and severe. Employees from warehouses near Moscow and in regions such as Yekaterinburg and Tula described encounters with drone attacks and missile strikes, often occurring without warning sirens. Workers recounted evacuations in the middle of the night lasting several hours, taking cover under bridges or fleeing into nearby woods regardless of cold temperatures. In some cases, workers witnessed drones exploding close by, intensifying the sense of danger.
Despite the risks, many employees remain on the job, citing comparatively higher wages and flexible work hours. Some Wildberries employees noted earnings of up to $2,900 monthly, more than double Russia’s average salary. The company reportedly allows workers to determine their schedules and provides immediate payment. A worker at the Yekaterinburg warehouse recalled continuing to come to work even after a drone strike destroyed dozens of employee vehicles. However, some workers have quit over safety concerns, with others facing tensions when traveling to less-affected warehouses due to fears that increased labor supply might depress wages.
Russian authorities have responded by urging companies to strengthen defenses around warehouses. Measures include installing nets, scaffolding to intercept drones, water barrels to suppress fires, fencing, and smoke exhaust systems. Ozon has also banned minors from warehouse employment in some regions and offered compensation to injured workers and families of those killed.
David Zelensky’s family gathered for his funeral shortly after the strike. His parents and several siblings, many of whom have hearing impairments, mourned the loss in Belgorod. Though sharing the same surname as Ukraine’s president, there is no known relation. At the funeral, friends paid tribute by placing a small motorcycle—reflecting David’s dream to ride—alongside flowers and sweets at his grave, marking the loss of a young life cut short amid the ongoing conflict.