Ukraine drones strike near St. Petersburg naval base during 'Russian Davos' forum

Ukraine conducted a significant drone assault on Russia, striking targets including naval facilities and fuel depots, with operations extending to the vicinity of St. Petersburg. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that drones flew approximately 1,000 kilometers overnight to hit Russian naval armories and a military base in Kronstadt, a key logistical hub for Russia's Baltic Fleet.

The attacks coincided with the closing day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an event often referred to as the 'Russian Davos,' which aims to showcase Russia's economic resilience amid Western sanctions. The timing of the strikes has drawn international attention, occurring just a day after Zelenskyy's call for direct negotiations with President Putin, a proposal met with a cold response from the Kremlin.

Russian officials reported that air defense systems engaged a large number of drones over St. Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region. The governor of Leningrad Oblast, Aleksandr Drozdenko, stated that 141 drones were shot down, with some fragments igniting fires and prompting the evacuation of over 600 people. St. Petersburg Mayor Alexander Beglov reported three injuries and disruptions to mobile network services, advising residents to stay indoors.

In addition to the St. Petersburg area, Ukrainian drones also targeted an oil depot in the Krasnodar Krai region in southern Russia. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) indicated that the facility was a crucial fuel supply point for Russian forces in the southern and eastern fronts, with at least three storage tanks catching fire. Russian emergency services confirmed a fire at the oil depot and evacuated dozens of residents, though they did not explicitly link the blaze to the drone attack.