Ukrainian Drone Attack Targets St. Petersburg Ahead of Economic Forum
A long-range drone from Ukraine struck St. Petersburg shortly before an international economic forum was set to begin in the city.
On Wednesday, an explosion rocked an oil terminal, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky. In addition to the strike on St. Petersburg, Ukrainian forces also targeted the Kronstadt naval base, part of the Leningrad Oblast and home to Russia’s Baltic Fleet.
Footage revealed a Ukrainian drone flying low over the port area and crashing into a Russian guided missile ship that was anchored and undergoing repairs.
St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov noted that the attack hit the Kirovsky and Krasnoselsky districts, which are located in the northeastern part of the city.
Delegates arriving for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, a key annual gathering meant to draw foreign investment, were greeted by confusion as the blast ignited a significant fire at an oil facility about nine miles from the event location.
This prestigious gathering is Russia’s equivalent of the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, and aims to highlight the nation’s economic strength. Approximately 20,000 attendees from 130 countries were expected for the three-day event.
Amid this backdrop, a U.S. delegation led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr. was sent by President Donald Trump, with right-wing personality Candice Owens and controversial figure Andrew Tate also slated to attend. Saudi Arabia’s delegation, including Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, was anticipated to be a special highlight of this year’s event. Additionally, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng was also among the dignitaries expected to be present.
The attack, occurring just before the highly publicized forum, became an embarrassment for President Putin, indicating Ukraine’s capability to successfully strike Russian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, “We thank our fighters for their decisive action. Ukraine’s long-term sanctions plan is being enacted to bring peace closer.”
This drone strike came in retaliation for Russian attacks that had resulted in the deaths of 23 Ukrainians and left many more injured.
President Zelensky mentioned at a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting in Kyiv, “In a single major attack, Russia killed 23 people in our country, including children. Russia used a large number of unmanned aircraft—more than 650 at night and about 100 more during the day. The biggest threat remains, of course, missiles.”
In a social media update, Zelensky noted that the Ukrainian government maintained “constant communication” with the United States.
He expressed, “We’re waiting for the negotiating team to arrive, but it’s taking a long time. Iran is currently the biggest issue for the United States. I genuinely believe that the U.S. is the most influential actor that can steer President Putin towards a resolution, which is why I’ve insisted that American involvement in the negotiations alongside Europe is critical.”
