Ukraine claims drone strikes hit St. Petersburg oil terminal, military base

Ukraine has claimed responsibility for drone attacks that struck a key oil terminal in St. Petersburg and military targets in Kronstadt, signaling a significant escalation in the conflict's reach. The strikes demonstrate Ukraine's growing capability to project force deep into Russian territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the long-range strikes, part of a sustained sanctions plan by Ukrainian intelligence and security agencies, hit important Russian targets. The St. Petersburg oil terminal is located about 1,100 kilometers from Ukraine's border. Zelenskyy also confirmed strikes on military targets at the Kronstadt naval base and an enterprise in the Tambov region producing Russian weapons, nearly 600 kilometers from the front lines.

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Our long-term sanctions, implemented by SBU, SBS, SSO, GUR, and State Border Guard Service soldiers, have yielded good results. Tonight, important targets in Russian territory were hit. Among them is the St. Petersburg oil terminal. From our state border with Ukraine to this Russian oil industry facility, which is working for the war, it is about 1100 kilometers. Military targets were also hit at the Kronstadt base.

"Our long-term sanctions, implemented by SBU, SBS, SSO, GUR, and State Border Guard Service soldiers, have yielded good results," Zelenskyy wrote on social media. "Tonight, important targets in Russian territory were hit. Among them is the St. Petersburg oil terminal... Thank you to our soldiers for their accuracy. Ukraine's long-term sanctions plan is being implemented exactly as needed to bring peace closer. Glory to Ukraine!"

The attacks occurred as St. Petersburg hosted its annual International Economic Forum, a prominent event attracting international business figures and often attended by President Vladimir Putin. The strikes also led to temporary flight restrictions at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg and airspace limitations over parts of the Leningrad region. Ukrainian military expert Serhiy Marchenko described the strikes as a "new quality of war," suggesting Ukraine now possesses the regular capability to strike targets across much of European Russia, transforming the conflict into a daily reality for Russia.

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I will write that this is the same new quality of war, which more and more experts cautiously call by the pleasant word 'turning point'. It is obvious that the Armed Forces of Ukraine have acquired the ability to REGULARLY attack targets in almost all of European Russia. The key word here is REGULARLY. These are not one-off actions, but ROUTINE DAILY work, when we cause pain to Russia.