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Ukraine launches drone attack on St Petersburg outskirts
Smoke billowed over Russia's second-largest city at dawn on Wednesday as Ukrainian drones targeted areas near St Petersburg, hours before the start of a major economic forum aimed at drawing foreign investment.
Air defenses intercept drones, disrupt infrastructure
Local authorities reported that air defenses shot down 59 drones overnight, with strikes hitting three districts of St Petersburg. No fatalities were confirmed, but mobile internet services were disrupted, and Pulkovo Airport temporarily suspended operations. Neighboring Latvia and Estonia issued air raid alerts in response to the attacks.
Kremlin vows retaliation, Zelensky confirms strikes
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow would respond to the attacks with systemic measures. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later confirmed that Ukrainian drones had struck multiple locations in Russia, including an oil terminal and a naval base in Kronstadt, a key outpost for the Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet.
"The Ukrainian plan of long-range sanctions is being implemented exactly as needed to bring peace closer," Zelensky wrote on social media.
Military targets hit, unverified footage emerges
Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's unmanned systems, claimed on Telegram that the Russian corvette Boikiy was struck during the attack. Unverified videos posted by Ukrainian military figures showed drones approaching docked military vessels, though the footage cut off before impact.
St Petersburg forum proceeds despite attacks
The St Petersburg International Economic Forum, often called the "Russian Davos," is set to open on Friday with Vladimir Putin scheduled to address attendees. The event has historically attracted high-profile Western delegations, but participation has dwindled since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
This year, a low-key U.S. delegation, led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr., head of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, is expected to attend. Other notable guests include U.S. right-wing commentator Candace Owens and actor Steven Seagal, a vocal supporter of Putin.
Ukraine ramps up long-range strikes on Russian infrastructure
Since the start of the war, Ukraine has developed a robust domestic defense industry, enabling regular strikes deep inside Russian territory. Kyiv has increasingly targeted energy infrastructure and oil facilities, viewing them as critical to sustaining Russia's war effort.
In a related development, a drone strike on a passenger bus in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region of Ukraine killed seven people on Wednesday, according to a Moscow-installed official. Meanwhile, Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities continue to cause civilian casualties, with at least 22 deaths reported in combined missile and drone attacks on Monday night alone.
Ukrainian defense sector reacts with dark humor
Denys Shtilierman, a representative of Ukrainian defense company Fire Point, posted a tongue-in-cheek message on X, stating: "Due to such distinguished guests and the importance of the event itself, we couldn't ignore it-and urgently flew to [St Petersburg]." The post included videos of drones in flight and thick smoke rising from undisclosed locations along the sea front.
