Tatyana Bakalchuk, the founder of Wildberries, and her estranged husband Vladislav Bakalchuk are embroiled in a divorce battle that escalated into a shootout, resulting in two deaths and five injuries, according to a report by The New York Times.
Tatyana, a Korean-Russian with the last name “Kim” before her marriage, founded Wildberries on maternity leave in 2004 and grew it into Russia’s largest e-commerce platform. She filed for divorce from Vladislav in July, and the couple has been locked in a fierce dispute over company merger issues.
The confrontation occurred in the lobby of a luxury office building directly across from the Kremlin, where several robust men argued before one pulled out a gun and opened fire, leading to fatalities and multiple injuries.
Two security guards were found dead. According to TASS, 28 people associated with the incident have been taken into custody.
Vladislav stated he was heading to the Wildberries headquarters with colleagues to discuss peaceful negotiations regarding constructing a new warehouse. At the building’s entrance, he claimed security guards attacked them, and one of his companions was injured in the altercation.
Tatyana completely denied her husband’s claims. She rebutted on Telegram, accusing him of forcefully attempting to seize the company. “We never planned any negotiations, and my husband stormed into the office with armed individuals, resulting in the shootout,” Tatyana shared. In a subsequent video, she tearfully asked, “Vladislav, what are you doing? How do you plan to face our children and parents?”
Russian authorities announced that they are currently investigating the incident. Two police officers who responded to the scene were reportedly injured but did not provide further details.
For several months, Russian media has reported the couple’s conflict, which has become a significant issue in the Russian business community. The dispute centers around the ownership of Wildberries, which generated $27 billion in revenue last year. Wildberries is the largest e-commerce platform in Russia, processing over 12 million orders daily.
In July, Vladislav strongly opposed Wildberries’ announcement regarding a merger with Russ, an outdoor advertising company. In an interview with the Russian economic media outlet RBC, he stated, “If we divorce, I will demand half of the company.” Shortly after, Tatyana filed for divorce at the end of July.
This conflict developed into a discussion about conservative family values rather than simply a straightforward business dispute. In July, Vladislav publicly contacted the strongman leader of Russia’s Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, alleging that his wife was “leaving home and associating with strange people.” In response, Kadyrov urged Tatyana to go back home, saying on a YouTube video, “The company Wildberries is under attack, and I will stand by Vladislav until the end.”
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