Ukrainian attack on St. Petersburg embarrasses Putin ahead of economic forum

Black smoke billowed over St. Petersburg as the Ukrainian army launched a large-scale attack on the Russian city overnight. The strike targeted key Russian facilities, including the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, located over 1,100 kilometers from Ukraine's border.

The timing of the assault was deliberate, coinciding with the opening of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). This annual event is a major platform where President Vladimir Putin typically seeks to portray Russia as an attractive destination for investors.

However, the Ukrainian attack threatens to overshadow this carefully crafted image. "When you see the images of St. Petersburg with those black smoke clouds, it doesn't immediately give the impression of a city or country where everything is normal," said Russia expert Jan Balliauw of the Egmont Institute.

As CEOs and business leaders arrived for the forum, they were met with a near-dystopian scene. Large plumes of black smoke hung over the city, with firefighters still battling blazes in various locations. Balliauw, who visited the forum in 2018 under different circumstances, noted the significant decrease in Western CEOs attending this year compared to previous years.