Ukrainian Drone Strikes Target Oil Infrastructure Near St. Petersburg in Major Attack

Ukrainian drones launched one of the largest attacks to date on Russia's second-largest city and its surrounding region overnight, targeting oil infrastructure and a strategic Baltic Sea port near St. Petersburg, according to Russian and Ukrainian officials.

The coordinated strikes mark the latest escalation in Ukraine's campaign against Russia's energy sector, which Kyiv has increasingly identified as a critical source of funding for Moscow's military operations.

St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said the city of nearly six million residents came under what he described as a "large-scale" drone attack. One of the city's main oil terminals was struck, although authorities reported no fatalities and said emergency services had contained the damage.

Meanwhile, Leningrad Region Governor Alexander Drozdenko said Ukrainian drones also targeted the Baltic Sea port of Vysotsk, a major export hub for oil, grain, coal, and liquefied natural gas. Russian air defense units intercepted 72 drones over the region during the overnight assault, he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces had deliberately targeted oil infrastructure at the port, describing the operation as part of a broader strategy to reduce revenues supporting Russia's war effort.

Zelensky also announced an attack on the Kronstadt naval base, one of Russia's most important naval installations near St. Petersburg and located more than 850 kilometers (530 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Russian authorities have not confirmed any damage to the base.

The latest operation underscores Ukraine's continued focus on Russian energy assets, following a series of drone strikes this year aimed at disrupting fuel supplies and reducing the Kremlin's financial resources.

Previous attacks on refineries, storage facilities, and export terminals have periodically affected fuel distribution across several Russian regions, highlighting the growing reach of Ukraine's long-range drone capabilities.

Elsewhere, Russian authorities reported that one person was killed in the Bryansk region and another in Crimea during separate drone attacks. Several others were injured in overnight strikes across different parts of the country.

Officials in Russia's Pskov region said air defenses intercepted more than 30 drones overnight. While casualties and damage were described as limited, authorities confirmed that an industrial facility in the city of Velikiye Luki sustained damage during the attacks.