Ukraine launched a major drone attack on Russia’s second-largest city, St Petersburg, striking an oil terminal and a naval facility just hours before President Vladimir Putin’s flagship economic forum opened.
The attack targeted key infrastructure in Putin’s hometown and appeared designed to send a message as Russia welcomed international guests to its annual economic summit, often referred to as Russia’s version of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Russian authorities confirmed that Ukrainian drones struck several facilities in and around the city overnight, leaving infrastructure damaged and several people injured.
St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said unspecified infrastructure sites were hit across three districts of the city, while authorities in the surrounding Leningrad region reported that air defence systems intercepted dozens of drones.
“Several facilities have been damaged. Clean-up operations are underway. Several people were injured, but there were no fatalities,” Beglov said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the operation, saying Ukrainian forces successfully targeted a fuel terminal and a military installation in Kronstadt, an island base that hosts elements of Russia’s Baltic Fleet and major naval repair facilities.
Kyiv also released footage it said showed a drone striking the Russian corvette Boiky while the vessel was in a dry dock at the naval base.
While independent verification of the extent of the damage remains difficult, videos circulating on social media showed thick smoke rising from an industrial area as drones flew across parts of the city.
Residents reported hearing multiple explosions, while witnesses described anti-aircraft fire echoing across the skyline.
The attack disrupted activities at St Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport, forcing temporary flight restrictions and causing delays and cancellations for dozens of flights.
The timing of the strike is particularly significant as it coincided with the opening of Russia’s premier economic forum, a high-profile event used by the Kremlin to showcase investment opportunities and demonstrate international engagement despite Western sanctions.
This year’s gathering has attracted senior officials and business figures from several countries, including Saudi Arabia, while a number of American public figures are also expected to attend.
The incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of Russia’s air defence capabilities, especially after a series of Ukrainian drone attacks deep inside Russian territory in recent months.
It also underscores Kyiv’s growing ability to strike strategic targets far from the battlefield, as both sides increasingly rely on long-range drone warfare in a conflict that has entered its fifth year.
The Kremlin has vowed to continue retaliatory strikes against Ukraine, describing its military response as part of a new phase in the war.
With neither side showing signs of backing down, the latest attack highlights the widening reach of the conflict and the mounting challenges facing both Moscow and Kyiv as the war continues to escalate.
