ST. PETERSBURG — Ukraine launched hundreds of drones at Russian targets early Wednesday, striking infrastructure in St. Petersburg including an oil export terminal near the site of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which was scheduled to begin that day. Black smoke rose above the historic heart of the city following the attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strike on the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, stating in a post on X early Wednesday, “Important facilities on Russian territory were hit last night.” He added that the drones flew more than 600 miles to reach the target and said, “Ukraine’s plan for long-range strikes is being carried out exactly as needed to bring peace closer.”
Emergency crews responded to the attacks and began assessing damage, according to St. Petersburg Mayor Alexander Beglov. The city’s airport briefly suspended flights and cut off mobile internet services in the aftermath. Russian air defenses claimed to have intercepted 50 Ukrainian drones overnight in the Leningrad region, according to regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko, while Russia’s Defense Ministry reported downing 354 Ukrainian drones nationwide.
The drone strikes occurred a day after Russia launched one of its largest aerial assaults on Ukraine in months, killing at least 22 people and injuring more than 100. In a statement Wednesday, Ukraine’s Security Service said, “Russia is once again demonstrating its unwillingness to engage in any pragmatic dialogue on ending its war.” The agency added, “The longer Russia chooses war over peace, the more frequently the facilities sustaining that war will burn.”
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, scheduled to open Wednesday, has drawn international attention with the announcement that a U.S. delegation would attend for the first time in many years. The Kremlin said the delegation would be led by Rodney Cook, chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts. Saudi Arabia is the special guest country for the 2026 forum and is sending a high-level business delegation, while senior officials from Iran and China are also among the attendees.