St Petersburg, Russia. Ukraine struck an oil export terminal in St Petersburg hours before President Vladimir Putin’s annual economic forum began, in an attack that coincided with intensified cross-border strikes in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian drones hit the fuel terminal and also targeted a military facility near Russia’s second-largest city.
Attack before economic forum
The strike took place before the opening of Putin’s annual economic forum in St Petersburg, his home city. The event is intended to attract foreign investment and present Russia as a stable economic destination.
Damage and official responses
A plume of smoke was visible from the historic city centre after the oil export terminal was hit, and Reuters correspondents reported hearing loud explosions on Wednesday morning.
Alexander Beglov, the governor of St Petersburg, said unspecified infrastructure objects were hit in three different districts of the city. Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the wider Leningrad region, said air defences shot down 59 drones overnight.
Airport disruption
Pulkovo airport temporarily restricted flights, according to Russia’s aviation watchdog. Local news outlets reported that more than 30 flights were delayed or cancelled.
