Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on St. Petersburg on Saturday, the final day of a major investment forum, just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at the event and rejected a proposal for peace talks with Kyiv. The assault targeted energy and military infrastructure in and around Russia's second-largest city, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.
Details of the Attack
Ukrainian drones struck multiple sites in St. Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region early on June 3, according to Russian and Ukrainian authorities. The strikes set a defense ministry facility ablaze and temporarily disrupted operations at Pulkovo Airport, Russia's second-largest commercial airport. Russian air defense systems intercepted 144 drones over the Leningrad region, Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported on Telegram, describing the assault as unprecedented. A fire broke out at a defense ministry site in the Lomonosovsky district, prompting a partial evacuation of nearby residents.
Naval Base and Oil Depots Targeted
Kronstadt, the naval base on Kotlin Island west of St. Petersburg, was briefly closed to traffic, the district administration said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed strikes on the St. Petersburg region, stating they targeted the Russian navy's arsenals and the Kronstadt base. An oil depot in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia was also hit. Ukraine's General Staff reported explosions at Kronstadt naval base, a hub for the Baltic Fleet, as well as hits on the Petergofskaya oil depot, the Neste oil terminal in Lomonosov, and a logistics support center in Bolshaya Izhora.
Putin's Rejection of Talks
Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Putin dismissed Zelenskyy's call for a meeting to negotiate an end to the war, now in its fifth year. "I see no sense" in holding a meeting with Zelenskyy, Putin stated. The forum, a flagship economic event, had already been overshadowed earlier in the week by a Ukrainian drone strike on a St. Petersburg oil terminal.
Russian Counterattacks
Russia continued its own attacks on Ukraine, with at least 12 civilians killed and over 70 injured across the country in the past day, regional authorities reported. Six people died in the Donetsk region, Governor Vadym Filashkin said, while another six were killed and 27 wounded in the Kherson region, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.
Strategic Significance
The Leningrad region is a key commodities export hub in northwestern Russia, repeatedly targeted by Ukraine this year, including attacks that damaged energy export terminals. No damage to ports or export infrastructure was reported from Saturday's attack. The strikes underscore Ukraine's growing capability to strike deep into Russian territory, challenging the Kremlin's narrative of security and normalcy.
