Ukrainian Drone Strikes Target St Petersburg on Eve of Key Economic Summit

Ukraine executed a drone attack on the outskirts of St Petersburg just hours before the inauguration of a premier economic forum intended to draw international capital to Russia. As morning light broke over Russia’s second-largest city, thick columns of black smoke rose into the sky, coinciding with the scheduled appearance of Vladimir Putin, who was set to address the financial gathering on Friday.

The event is expected to host thousands of attendees from 130 nations, including a modest delegation from the United States. According to local officials, air defense systems intercepted 59 drones throughout the night. While three distinct districts of St Petersburg were impacted, authorities reported no fatalities. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declared that Moscow would deliver a "systemic" response to the attacks, a statement he made on Wednesday.

The strikes caused immediate disruptions, including mobile internet outages and a temporary closure of Pulkovo Airport. Additionally, air raid warnings were issued in certain areas of neighboring Latvia and Estonia.

Shortly after the initial reports, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed via social media that Ukrainian drones had struck multiple sites within Russia. These targets included an oil terminal and a naval base in Kronstadt, a nearby town and primary base for the Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet. Zelensky framed the operation as the execution of a "long-range sanctions" plan, describing it as a necessary step to accelerate the path to peace.

Social media platforms circulated unverified footage from Ukrainian military sources showing drones approaching moored military vessels, though the videos ended before any impact was visible. Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems, stated on Telegram that the corvette Boikiy had been hit.

The St Petersburg International Economic Forum, often referred to as the "Russian Davos," holds significant weight in the Russian political calendar. Prior to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the summit regularly attracted high-level Western delegations, featuring heads of state and corporate CEOs. This year, however, the event sees a low-key US delegation for the first time in nearly ten years. The US contingent is headed by Rodney Mims Cook Jr., the head of the US Commission of Fine Arts, who has been managing President Donald Trump’s ballroom project at the White House. Also scheduled to attend are US right-wing commentator Candace Owens and actor Steven Seagal, known for his support of Putin.

In a satirical post on X, Denys Shylierman of the Ukrainian defense firm Fire Point remarked, "Due to such distinguished guests and the importance of the event itself, we couldn't ignore it - and urgently flew to [St Petersburg]." The message was paired with clips of drones traversing the sky and dense black smoke rising from unspecified locations along the waterfront.

Over the past four years of conflict, Ukraine has cultivated a robust defense industry, enabling it to regularly strike targets inside Russia. Kyiv has prioritized attacks on energy infrastructure and oil facilities, which it argues sustain the Russian war effort.

Meanwhile, violence continues on both sides of the border. On Wednesday, a Moscow-appointed official reported that seven people died after a drone struck a passenger bus in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region. Moscow continues its own bombardment of Ukrainian cities, leading to frequent civilian casualties. Just on Monday night, combined missile and drone attacks across Ukraine resulted in the deaths of at least 22 people.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-03 10:59:30 UTC