Ukrainian drones target St Petersburg after Putin refuses talks with Zelenskiy

Ukraine launched a significant drone barrage on St Petersburg and its surrounding region Saturday, targeting a defense ministry facility and disrupting operations at Russia's second-largest airport. Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported that Russian air defenses shot down 144 drones over the Leningrad region, calling it an unprecedented assault. A fire erupted at a defense ministry site in the Lomonosovsky district, leading to the partial evacuation of nearby residents.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strikes, stating they targeted Russian navy arsenals and the naval base at Kronstadt. An oil depot in the Krasnodar region was also reportedly hit. The Leningrad region, a key commodities export hub, has faced repeated Ukrainian attacks this year, though no damage to ports or export infrastructure was reported from Saturday's incident.

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I see no sense

The attacks followed President Putin's refusal to engage in talks with Zelenskyy. Speaking at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Putin stated he saw "no sense" in meeting with the Ukrainian president. The forum itself was overshadowed by earlier Ukrainian drone strikes on a St Petersburg oil terminal and the Kronstadt base.

Meanwhile, Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine, with regional authorities reporting at least 12 civilians killed and over 70 injured across the nation in the preceding day. Six deaths were reported in the Donetsk region, and another six in the Kherson region.

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describing it as an unprecedented assault