Ukraine hits major oil terminal and naval base in Russia's St. Petersburg

Ukraine launched drone strikes targeting a major oil terminal and a naval base in Russia's St. Petersburg region, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He stated the targeted areas were about 850 kilometers (528 miles) from Ukraine's border.

A video shared by Zelensky appeared to show a drone heading toward a target, followed by a large plume of black smoke rising from the area. The BBC later verified that St. Petersburg's oil terminal, described by Ukraine's military as one of Russia's largest with an annual production capacity of 12.5 million tonnes of petroleum products, was hit. The military also claimed a key naval base of the Russian Baltic Fleet in Kronstadt was struck.

Russian authorities have not publicly commented on the strikes. However, St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov reported that 72 Ukrainian drones were shot down over the city and the wider Leningrad region. He advised residents to remain indoors due to the drone threat and warned of potential disruptions to mobile internet services.

In a separate development, Ukraine's military refuted claims made by Russian President Vladimir Putin that the eastern Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka is now under full Russian control. Military spokesman Maj. Andriy Kovalyov asserted that Kostyantynivka remains under Ukrainian control, acknowledging "cases of infiltration by small infantry groups" but stating these groups were being neutralized. Putin had previously claimed Russian control over the town in June, a claim for which he provided no evidence. Zelensky responded to Putin's claim by stating that if Kostyantynivka were under Russian control, Putin would have no issue meeting him there to find diplomatic solutions, but emphasized that the reality on the ground was different.

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If Kostyantynivka is now under Russian control, then Putin will probably have no problem meeting me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war. But still, he will not cross the front line: the truth is very different from Putin's words.