Ukraine launched its largest drone attack to date on St Petersburg on Sunday, targeting the city’s oil export terminal, a logistics center, and a tech data facility as part of its ongoing campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. The strike came despite US calls to pause such operations and followed a brief suspension of attacks after a reported “energy ceasefire” agreement announced by former US President Donald Trump.
Fires broke out at the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchi oil depot, according to St Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov. One person was killed and between five and fifteen others were reported wounded across the strikes. A logistics warehouse owned by Russian retailer Ozon and a data center operated by VK, one of Russia’s largest technology companies, were also damaged. Authorities said parts of the city experienced power outages after drones struck an electricity substation.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense declared it had intercepted more than 1,000 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions, including 146 downed near St Petersburg and over 500 near Moscow. Despite these claims, the attacks caused significant disruption, forcing the temporary closure of airports in Moscow and St Petersburg and resulting in numerous flight cancellations. Russian officials emphasized that the strikes would not alter the overall course of the conflict.
The drone assault highlighted tensions between Kyiv, Washington, and Moscow surrounding energy infrastructure strikes. Trump announced an energy ceasefire with Russia earlier this month, along with a diesel deal and a temporary waiver of sanctions on Russian energy exports, aiming to lower global fuel prices. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the ceasefire as ineffective, citing continued Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities—over 76 incidents recorded in the week following the announcement—which caused widespread blackouts in several regions.
Zelenskyy described the new Ukrainian attacks as a response to Russia’s ongoing offensive and accused Moscow of seeking to cause blackouts in Ukraine as part of its campaign. He also criticized the US for what he viewed as inconsistent support; while the Biden administration briefly suspended intelligence sharing during intense Russian missile attacks, Zelenskyy said this was later restored. Kyiv has expressed frustration over perceived limits placed by Washington on military aid, particularly regarding technology like Starlink internet service, which Ukrainian officials said remains speed-limited for military use.
The recent drone campaign underscores Kyiv’s determination to press its offensive against Russian energy targets. Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to liberate occupied territories and maintain pressure on Russia despite diplomatic efforts and economic negotiations led by the US. Talks between Ukrainian officials and US envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are expected to continue this week.
Meanwhile, in Lithuania, authorities reported an incident involving a Ukrainian drone entering their airspace, possibly diverted by Russian electronic warfare. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry issued an apology, attributing the incursion to Russian interference and emphasizing that the drone operation targeted military objectives in Russia.
The evolving conflict continues to see significant escalation in drone warfare, with growing impacts on civilian infrastructure and regional stability. Both the Ukrainian and Russian governments have reiterated their respective positions, with Moscow maintaining confidence in its military campaign and Kyiv insisting on the necessity of its strikes in defense against the Russian invasion.