New large-scale drone attack hits St. Petersburg during economic forum

St. Petersburg has once again woken to the sight of black smoke billowing over the city following another large-scale drone attack. The assault occurs concurrently with the ongoing Russian International Economic Forum (SPIEF), an event often dubbed "Russia's Davos," which aims to attract foreign investment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has published a video purportedly showing recent attacks. The SPIEF conference, a key event for Russia to showcase its economic potential, has been overshadowed by these Ukrainian drone strikes. Despite the significant security concerns and the ongoing attacks, Russian state television channels have reportedly not mentioned the drone incidents, focusing instead on the proceedings of the economic forum.

The independent Russian news outlet Astra highlighted this discrepancy, noting the lack of coverage on state media. The forum, typically a platform for Russia to engage with international business and investment communities, is taking place under the shadow of renewed Ukrainian aerial assaults on the host city.