Ukrainian drones strike St Petersburg oil terminal and naval base on opening day of Putin's economic forum

The attack

Ukrainian drones hit an oil export terminal in St Petersburg and a military facility at the Kronstadt naval base early on Wednesday, the opening day of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The attack, which lasted more than five hours according to local authorities, sent plumes of black smoke over the historic city centre. Governor Alexander Beglov confirmed that unspecified infrastructure objects were hit in three different districts of the city, adding that several people were injured but there were no deaths.

Several facilities have been damaged. Clean-up operations are currently underway. Several people were injured. There were no deaths.

The targets

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed the strikes, stating that the drones had hit the St Petersburg oil terminal, approximately 1,100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, as well as purely military targets at the Kronstadt base. Ukraine's General Staff reported that the corvette Boiky of the Russian Baltic Fleet was damaged in the attack, with a fire breaking out on board. Video footage circulated online showing a drone striking the vessel while it was in dry dock. The extent of the damage to the ship and the oil terminal could not be independently verified.

Tonight, important targets on Russian territory were hit. Among them, the oil terminal in St Petersburg. From our Ukrainian state border to this Russian oil industry facility, which works for the war, it is about 1,100 kilometres. Purely military targets at the Kronstadt base were also hit.

The forum

SPIEF, often referred to as Putin's 'Davos', is an annual showcase designed to attract foreign investment and present Russia at its best. The forum runs until Saturday, with Putin expected to deliver a speech on Friday. The attack comes as western interest in the event has declined sharply since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine over four years ago. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would continue to respond to such strikes, stating that the military operation was being conducted precisely so that such attacks would not occur.

Wider context

The strike on St Petersburg is part of an intensifying campaign of long-range Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian energy and military infrastructure. Zelenskiy described the operations as "long-range sanctions" carried out jointly by Ukraine's Security Service, Unmanned Systems Forces, Special Operations Forces, military intelligence (HUR), and the State Border Guard Service. He also noted that a facility in the Tambov region involved in Russian arms production was hit, nearly 600 kilometres from the front line. Russia's air force reported shooting down 754 Ukrainian drones over the past 24 hours, while regional authorities in Leningrad said 59 drones were intercepted overnight.

Disruption

Pulkovo airport temporarily restricted flights, with more than 30 flights delayed or cancelled according to local news outlets. Residents received SMS alerts warning of drone danger and possible mobile internet disruptions. Videos on social media showed residents filming fixed-wing Ukrainian drones flying over neighbourhoods as air defence systems were activated. Debris from downed drones also caused minor damage to four single-family homes in the surrounding Leningrad region.