Ukrainian drones targeted multiple sites in St Petersburg early Wednesday, striking key energy and military facilities just hours before the city’s flagship economic forum commenced. The attacks resulted in explosions and thick smoke rising from an oil storage terminal, highlighting vulnerabilities in Russia’s air defense systems.
The assault affected the Kirovsky and Krasnoselsky districts of St Petersburg, according to Governor Alexander Beglov. Ukrainian forces also hit the nearby Kronstadt naval base and shipyard in the Leningrad region, which serves as the home port for Russia’s Baltic fleet. Footage circulated online showing a Ukrainian drone flying low over the port and striking a guided-missile ship undergoing repairs in dry dock.
The timing and location of the strikes are significant, as they occurred about 16 kilometers from the venue hosting the annual economic forum often referred to as the “Russian Davos.” The event attracts tens of thousands of visitors, including political figures, business leaders, and controversial personalities. Several scheduled guests faced travel disruptions due to the temporary closure of St Petersburg’s airport following the drone attacks.
Among the notable attendees were former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, far-right American influencer Candace Owens, and British-American brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate. The Tate brothers arrived in Moscow on Tuesday amid pending criminal charges in Romania, involving allegations of human trafficking, money laundering, and forming a criminal group. British authorities have also charged them with rape, bodily harm, and controlling prostitution for profit. Both deny the accusations.
The U.S. delegation was led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr., chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and a figure involved in the construction of a controversial White House ballroom. The former actor Steven Seagal, known for his support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was also present.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the drone strikes as part of Ukraine’s “long-range sanctions” campaign against Russia. In a social media statement, he confirmed the attacks targeted “important facilities on Russian territory,” including the oil terminal, the Kronstadt naval base, and a weapons factory in Tambov, approximately 680 miles from Ukraine’s border. Zelenskyy praised the precision of Ukrainian forces in executing the operation.
The incident represents a symbolic and strategic setback for the Kremlin as it prepares to host the high-profile forum, underscoring the ongoing tensions stemming from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Ukraine’s increasing capability to target Russian infrastructure deep within its territory.