ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Ukraine has carried out one of its most significant long-range drone attacks of the war, striking a major oil terminal in Russia’s second-largest city of St. Petersburg in an operation that underscores Kyiv’s growing ability to hit strategic targets deep inside Russian territory.
According to the BBC, Ukrainian drones targeted the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, one of the largest petroleum transshipment facilities in the Baltic region, triggering a fire and sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky. The strike occurred as Russia was preparing to host the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, one of President Vladimir Putin’s premier events aimed at attracting foreign investment.
Russian officials confirmed that Ukrainian drones had struck infrastructure facilities in the city, although they did not immediately identify the damaged site. Authorities reported that air defense systems were activated overnight and claimed dozens of drones had been intercepted over the Leningrad region. Several facilities sustained damage, and some people were reportedly injured, though no fatalities were immediately announced.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later confirmed that Ukrainian long-range drones had successfully struck both the oil terminal and a Russian naval facility in nearby Kronstadt. Kyiv described the operation as part of its strategy to weaken Russia’s military logistics and reduce the Kremlin’s ability to finance its war effort through energy exports.
The St. Petersburg Oil Terminal is considered a strategically important energy hub. Covering approximately 37 hectares, it contains dozens of storage tanks and has an annual handling capacity of more than 12 million metric tons of petroleum products. Because of its importance to Russia’s fuel exports, the facility has become an increasingly valuable target for Ukrainian long-range drone operations.
The attack also disrupted operations across the city. Flights at St. Petersburg’s airport were temporarily suspended, while local authorities imposed restrictions on mobile internet services as emergency crews responded to the incident. Videos circulating on social media showed fires burning near the oil terminal, although the full extent of the damage has not been independently verified.
Military analysts say the strike demonstrates Ukraine’s expanding capability to project force more than 1,000 kilometers inside Russian territory using domestically developed long-range drones. Since the beginning of the year, Kyiv has intensified attacks against Russian refineries, oil depots, fuel terminals, and military infrastructure in an effort to disrupt fuel supplies supporting Russia’s armed forces.
The latest attack comes amid an escalating cycle of strikes between the two countries. While Ukraine continues targeting Russian energy and military infrastructure, Russia has maintained large-scale missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities, leaving little indication that the more than four-year conflict is nearing an end.