Scores of Ukrainian drones target St Petersburg in attack Russia calls 'unprecedented'

Russian authorities reported an "unprecedented attack" involving over 140 drones targeting St. Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region on Saturday. The large-scale drone operation coincided with the final day of Russia's annual economic forum being held in the city.

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President Zelensky posted a video on social media showing drones and explosions

Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko stated that more than 140 drones were shot down over the Leningrad region. City governor Alexander Beglov urged residents to remain indoors, a measure not seen since the beginning of the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed responsibility for the strikes, asserting that his forces targeted Russian arsenals and a naval base in Kronstadt as a "just response" to Russian attacks.

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Russian authorities say Ukraine has launched an "unprecedented attack" on and around St Petersburg, as the city hosts the final day of Russia's annual economic forum.

Zelensky also indicated that Ukrainian drones had traveled up to 1,000 km (620 miles) to reach the St. Petersburg region. He further reported that an oil depot in the Krasnodar region, approximately 500 km (310 miles) away, had also been targeted. This comes after Zelensky's recent call for direct negotiations with President Putin to end the war, a proposal Putin rejected, stating that Russia's goals must be met first.

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More than 140 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region, governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said, while the city's governor, Alexander Beglov, urged residents to remain indoors for the first time since the beginning of the war.

The drone attacks also impacted Russian-occupied Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, where coach and commuter train services were suspended for security reasons following a campaign of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian logistics. An analyst noted that over 200 lorries and 30 fuel trucks have been hit since early May.

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Ukraine's president said his forces hit Russia's arsenals and a naval base in what he called a just response to Russian attacks.