Ukraine hits St. Petersburg with drones after Putin refuses Zelensky meeting

Ukraine launched a significant drone attack on St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, on Saturday morning, injuring three people and highlighting Kyiv's expanding reach deep into Russian territory. The assault came just a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a proposal for a direct meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

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Last night, our drones covered a distance of about 1,000 kilometers to the St. Petersburg region - to the enemy navy’s arsenals and a base in Kronstadt

St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov reported minor injuries and advised residents to stay indoors, warning of potential disruptions to mobile internet service. Neighboring Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko stated that 141 drones were intercepted over his region, calling it an "unprecedented attack." Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses downed a total of 376 Ukrainian drones.

President Zelensky asserted on X that Ukrainian drones traveled approximately 1,000 kilometers to strike targets in the St. Petersburg region, including naval arsenals and a base in Kronstadt. He also noted drone hits on an oil depot in the southern Krasnodar region. Zelensky described the strikes as a "just response" to Russian aggression, stating, "Any manifestation of injustice against Ukraine will receive a just response."

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It is time to end this war. But Russia’s ruler wants to keep fighting. That is why Ukrainian sanctions against this aggression are working

The renewed attacks on St. Petersburg represent another embarrassing setback for Putin's efforts to portray the conflict as distant from the daily lives of Russians. This follows a recent drone strike that ignited an oil terminal and hit a naval base just before the opening of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin's key event for showcasing investment. Speaking at the forum, Putin acknowledged the need to strengthen air defenses against these deep-penetrating Ukrainian drone attacks.

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Any manifestation of injustice against Ukraine will receive a just response.

Putin had previously dismissed Zelensky's peace proposal, stating he saw "no point" in a meeting. Zelensky had responded by calling the Russian leader "weak" and accusing him of "choosing war again." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned that the situation would "only get worse for Russia," with failures becoming "more humiliating" and no place in Russia being safe from escalating Ukrainian long-range attacks.

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Last night, our drones covered a distance of about 1,000 kilometers to the St. Petersburg region - to the enemy navy’s arsenals and a base in Kronstadt