Ukraine strikes St. Petersburg oil terminal and military sites during Russian economic forum
President Volodymyr Zelensky confirms strikes on key infrastructure 1,100 kilometres from the border, while NATO chief visits Ukraine following sustained Russian offensive.
Ukrainian drones have struck multiple targets in Russia, including the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal and a military base in Kronstadt, during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The attacks, confirmed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, targeted infrastructure approximately 1,100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border and a weapons production enterprise in the Tambov region. Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported that Russian forces downed 50 drones overnight, with injuries sustained and facilities damaged across several districts of the city.
The strikes occurred as President Vladimir Putin was set to attend the three-day economic conference, often referred to as the “Russian Davos.” Footage circulating online showed forum participants gathering against a backdrop of black smoke rising from the oil depot struck by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian officials stated the operation was designed to disrupt the event and implement long-range sanctions aimed at accelerating a resolution to the conflict.
In a separate incident in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region, a drone strike on a bus killed seven civilians and wounded 11. Denis Pushilin, the head of the Russian-occupied part of the Donetsk region, confirmed via Telegram that a UAV attacked a Moscow-Simferopol coach in Yenakiyevo. The bus was travelling from Moscow to Crimea, a Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014.
Concurrent with the attacks in Russia, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv for an unannounced visit. Ukraine’s national railway operator, Ukrzaliznytsia, described the trip as a gesture of solidarity following large-scale Russian attacks on the Ukrainian capital. The visit comes as residents in Kyiv continue to seek shelter from persistent Russian offensive activity that has extended into daytime hours.
Economic pressures on Russia were also highlighted ahead of the St. Petersburg forum. Alexander Vedyakhin, First Deputy CEO of Sberbank, warned that a strong rouble is squeezing commodity exporters, offsetting profits from higher oil prices. Vedyakhin noted that the currency needs to weaken to around 90 per US dollar to provide breathing space for companies and protect the national budget.
