Shots Fired Outside Wildberries Moscow Office Amid Merge Dispute

At least one person was killed and several others injured in a shooting incident at the headquarters of Russian online retailer Wildberries in Moscow on Wednesday, with the company reporting that a group led by Vladislav Bakalchuk, the ex-husband of Wildberries founder Tatiana Bakalchuk, attempted to forcibly enter the building.
Law enforcement authorities said they were investigating the incident, which resulted in two police officers being injured and 30 individuals being arrested, according to Interfax news agency.
An altercation reportedly began when a group of men, including Vladislav Bakalchuk — the ex-husband of Wildberries founder Tatiana Bakalchuk, Russia’s wealthiest woman — attempted to enter the building. A video published by the pro-Kremlin Telegram news channel Mash showed a scuffle outside the office, followed by gunshots and shouting.
Vladislav Bakalchuk later claimed he and his “team” were attacked when they arrived at the Wildberries headquarters “for negotiations to stop the construction of a warehouse.”
“I’m fine, and we’re sorting it out. Stay tuned for details,” he wrote on Telegram.
Tatiana Bakalchuk disputed the claim, saying “No such talks were ever arranged.” She said Wildberries contacted law enforcement officials after her ex-husband “attempted to seize” the company’s office in Moscow.
“We have nothing to hide, so I ask that the results of the investigation into the motives behind this outrageous action be made public,” Bakalchuk said. “This is now an attempted hostile takeover — though, thankfully, an unsuccessful one.”
The incident follows ongoing tensions surrounding Wildberries after it announced a merger with Russ Group over the summer, forming a new digital trading platform named RWB. Under the merger, Russ Group’s Robert Mirzoyan is slated to become the chief managing director of RWB, with Tatiana Bakalchuk as director general.
The personal fallout between Tatiana and Vladislav Bakalchuk escalated after their divorce in July. Vladislav had publicly sought the help of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, claiming he was facing a hostile takeover of the company.
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