Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Facilities Near St. Petersburg; Russia Claims Capture of Kostiantynivka

Ukrainian drones targeted Russian oil facilities on the Baltic Sea near St. Petersburg on Saturday, as confirmed by the local governor. St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov reported a "large-scale" drone attack on Russia's second-largest city, noting that there were no casualties.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged Ukraine's responsibility for the strikes, explaining their purpose was to impede Russian energy revenues amid the ongoing war. He stated that Ukrainian defense forces hit port oil infrastructure crucial for funding Russia's war effort. Additionally, strikes targeted Kronstadt, identified as a significant military objective located over 850 kilometers from Ukraine's border.

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Ukraine's defense forces struck port oil infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia's war, and also hit Kronstadt, an important military target more than 850 km (528 miles) from Ukraine's state border.

The attack follows a pattern of Ukrainian strikes on St. Petersburg, including a previous incident on the opening day of an annual economic conference where President Vladimir Putin was speaking. On Saturday, Alexander Drozdenko, the governor of the Leningrad region, reported that drones also struck the port of Vysotsk, northwest of St. Petersburg. This facility handles oil, grain, coal, and liquefied natural gas. Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted 72 drones over the Leningrad region and a total of 389 Ukrainian combat drones nationwide overnight.

In a separate development, Russia announced that its forces have captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka, a key target in the Donetsk region. Putin described the capture as a strategic achievement, highlighting the city's importance as a transport and industrial center in Donbas. Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov stated the advance is part of a broader effort to secure all of Donetsk. Ukraine has not yet issued a public response to this claim.

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We all know that this city is a key transport and large industrial centre of Donbas.