Russia claims village captures in Kharkiv; Ukraine targets St. Petersburg with drones

Russia's Ministry of Defense announced Saturday that its forces have taken control of four villages in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region and an additional village in the adjacent Donetsk region. The villages reportedly captured in Kharkiv are Shykivka, Novi Myr, Chernestya, and Duzheliubivka, while Vasylivka in Donetsk is also said to be under Russian control. Reuters noted it could not independently verify these battlefield claims.

Simultaneously, Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, and its surrounding areas experienced a large-scale drone attack overnight Saturday, according to both Russian and Ukrainian authorities. Targets included port facilities and oil infrastructure, with Ukraine continuing its efforts to disrupt Russia's fuel supply. St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov described the attack as "large-scale," noting that the city's oil terminal was hit. He reported no casualties and stated the situation was under control.

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Ukrainian defense forces hit oil infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia's war, as well as Kronstadt, a significant military target more than 850 kilometers from Ukraine's borders.

In the Leningrad region, Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported that a drone struck the port area of Vysotsk, located about 170 kilometers northwest of St. Petersburg on the Baltic Sea. This port handles oil, grain, coal, and liquefied natural gas. Drozdenko stated that 72 drones were shot down over the region, with minor damage reported in some settlements, though the impact on the Vysotsk port was not specified.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on the attacks via Telegram, asserting that "Ukrainian defense forces hit oil infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia's war, as well as Kronstadt, a significant military target more than 850 kilometers from Ukraine's borders." Russia has not confirmed an attack on Kronstadt, a major naval base near St. Petersburg that was also targeted in June. The Russian military stated it would respond to the "massive Ukrainian nighttime attacks," with the Defense Ministry issuing a press release promising an "appropriate response" to what it called President Zelenskyy's "attempt to destroy civilian infrastructure of the Russian Federation." The ministry claimed a total of 494 drones and missiles were downed during the assault.

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The attempt by (Ukrainian President) V. Zelenskyy to destroy civilian infrastructure of the Russian Federation will not go unanswered by the Russian armed forces.