Ukrainian long-range drones struck an oil terminal in Russia’s St. Petersburg, triggering a fire and disrupting airport operations ahead of a major international economic forum expected to feature President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the drones travelled more than 1,000 kilometres to reach the target, describing the strike as part of Ukraine’s campaign against Russia’s energy and military infrastructure.
Videos circulating on social media showed thick black smoke rising above the port area after the attack.
Russian authorities confirmed that Ukrainian drones targeted infrastructure in St. Petersburg but did not provide details about the damaged facility. Flights at the city’s airport were temporarily suspended overnight, while mobile internet services were also disrupted.
The attack came as St. Petersburg hosts its annual international economic forum, a high-profile event promoted by President Vladimir Putin. Although Western leaders and investors have largely stayed away since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Saudi Arabia is attending this year as a special guest country with a large business delegation.
The strike is seen as an embarrassment for the Kremlin, coming weeks after security concerns over Ukrainian drone attacks forced authorities to scale back Russia’s Victory Day celebrations in Moscow.
The latest developments follow a large-scale Russian missile and drone assault on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities a day earlier that killed at least 22 civilians and injured 138 others, according to Ukrainian officials.
As fighting along the front line remains largely unchanged, both Russia and Ukraine have increasingly relied on long-range drone attacks to target infrastructure and military assets deep inside each other's territory.
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian drones also struck the Kronstadt naval base near St. Petersburg and a weapons-related manufacturing facility in Russia’s Tambov region.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defence systems shot down 354 Ukrainian drones overnight.
In Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk region, local authorities said a Ukrainian strike hit a passenger bus travelling from Moscow to Crimea, killing seven people and injuring 11 others.
Meanwhile, officials in Russia’s Smolensk region reported that two firefighters were killed and three others injured in a separate Ukrainian drone attack.
Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 198 drones overnight, adding that 189 of them were intercepted or neutralised.
Regional authorities in Ukraine reported civilian casualties from continued Russian attacks, including one death and 15 injuries in Sumy region. In the southern Kherson region, an 86-year-old woman was killed and five others were wounded in overnight shelling and drone strikes.