Ukrainian drones struck energy and military sites in St. Petersburg early Wednesday, hours before international guests arrived for the city's flagship economic forum, delivering an embarrassing setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his scheduled keynote address on Friday.
According to reports, several long-range drones crashed into oil storage facilities after Russian air defenses failed to intercept them. The strikes triggered loud explosions and sent thick black smoke rising above the city from a burning oil terminal.
St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said the Kirovsky and Krasnoselsky districts were targeted. Ukraine also struck the nearby Kronstadt naval base and shipyard in the Leningrad region, home to Russia's Baltic Fleet.
Video footage circulating online reportedly showed a Ukrainian drone flying low over the port before striking an oil terminal.
The attacks occurred roughly 10 miles from the venue of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, often described as Russia's answer to Davos. Guests arriving for the opening ceremony were met by visible smoke over parts of the city, while others faced travel disruptions after the temporary closure of St. Petersburg's airport.
Around 20,000 visitors from 130 countries are expected to attend the three-day event. Attendees include former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, American commentator Candace Owens, brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, former Hollywood actor Steven Seagal, and a US delegation led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the operation as part of Ukraine's ongoing campaign of "long-range sanctions." Writing on social media, he said Ukrainian drones had struck "important facilities on Russian territory," including the Petersburg oil terminal, the Kronstadt naval base, and a weapons-producing factory in Russia's Tambov region.
Zelenskyy noted that the oil terminal is located about 1,100 kilometers from Ukraine's border and thanked Ukrainian forces for their precision. "Ukraine's plan for long-range sanctions is being implemented exactly as needed to bring peace closer," he wrote.
Speaking later alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Kyiv, Zelenskyy defended the strikes, saying: "Just a day ago, there was a massive attack. We responded accordingly."
The attack came one day after a large-scale Russianmissile and drone barragereportedly killed 23 people across Ukraine and injured dozens more.
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