St Petersburg, Russia. Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal and a naval base near St Petersburg early on Wednesday, hours before President Vladimir Putin’s annual economic forum was due to open in the city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces hit the fuel terminal and targeted a military facility in Kronstadt.
Strikes reported in St Petersburg area
Ukraine’s General Staff said preliminary information indicated that ships and infrastructure had been hit in Kronstadt, an island near St Petersburg that houses elements of Russia’s Baltic Fleet and major shipbuilding and repair facilities. Reuters could not independently verify those claims or the extent of damage to the oil terminal.
St Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov said unspecified infrastructure had been struck in three districts of the city. He said several facilities had been damaged, clean-up operations were under way, several people had been injured and there had been no fatalities.
Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the surrounding Leningrad region, said air defences had shot down 59 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Smoke, explosions and airport disruption
A plume of grey smoke was visible from St Petersburg’s historic city centre, and Reuters correspondents reported hearing loud explosions on Wednesday morning. Russia’s aviation watchdog said Pulkovo airport temporarily restricted flights, with more than 30 flights delayed or cancelled.
Unconfirmed video posted on social media showed residents filming Ukrainian fixed-wing drones flying over parts of the city while fires appeared to burn at the export fuel terminal in the background. Anti-aircraft fire could be heard as one drone flew on.
Forum opens under heightened security
The St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin’s annual event aimed at attracting foreign investment and projecting an image of a thriving Russia, is being held in the city this week. The forum venue was heavily protected, and there was no indication that Ukrainian drones came close to it.
Among this year’s prominent guests is Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. Americans due to attend include former Hollywood actor Steven Seagal and commentator Candace Owens. Rodney Mims Cook Jr, appointed by President Donald Trump to head the Commission of Fine Arts, is the first serving US official to attend the forum since 2018, according to the Kremlin.
Broader pattern in the war
The attack follows a pattern of Ukrainian strikes timed to coincide with high-profile Russian events. Last month, the threat of Ukrainian drones disrupted preparations for the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow, prompting Russia not to display military hardware at the Red Square ceremony for the first time in years.
Zelenskiy had said in advance that Ukrainian forces would not target the parade itself. The latest strikes come as both sides escalate attacks against each other in a war now in its fifth year.