Ukraine Launches Drone Strike on St. Petersburg Oil Terminal Ahead of Russian Economic Forum

Ukraine carried out a drone attack on an oil terminal in St. Petersburg early Wednesday morning, shortly before the commencement of the International Economic Forum attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that military targets, including the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Kronstadt naval base, were targeted. He noted that the strike was nearly 1,100 kilometers from Ukraine's border.

The economic forum, a vital platform for Putin to showcase Russia's resilience and combat notions of global isolation, is hosting delegates from various countries, including a U.S. delegation participating for the first time since 2018. Among notable attendees are hard-right influencer Candace Owens, actor Steven Seagal, and public figure Andrew Tate.

The attack was reportedly a coordinated effort involving multiple Ukrainian defense agencies. St. Petersburg Mayor Aleksandr Beglov confirmed that several infrastructure facilities were impacted, stating, "Several objects were damaged. Several people were injured. There are no casualties." While Russian authorities did not explicitly confirm the status of the oil terminal, local investigators have identified evidence of blasts in the port area where the facility is located.

Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukraine's long-range attacks on Russian oil refiners this year have incapacitated 40 percent of Russia's refining capacity.