Ukraine launches strikes on St Petersburg after Putin snubbed Zelensky’s call for talks to end war
Ukraine launched a series of strikes across Russia, targeting St Petersburg and other regions, following Vladimir Putin’s refusal to engage in face-to-face talks with Volodymyr Zelensky to end the war. The attacks included a naval ammunition depot in Leningrad region, a military training facility in Kronstadt, and infrastructure in Mariupol, while Moscow was forced to deploy air defenses against Ukrainian drones.
Ukraine conducted coordinated strikes across Russia on Friday, hours after President Vladimir Putin rejected Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for direct talks to end the war. Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin dismissed Zelensky’s letter, instead addressing Russian soldiers on the front lines, urging them to continue fighting. The most severe damage occurred in the Leningrad region, where a naval ammunition depot at the 81263 military unit detonated after a direct hit, triggering a Category 1 hazardous materials alert. St Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov ordered residents to shelter in place, warning of potential disruptions to mobile internet and ongoing air threat assessments. Putin, who was in the city for the forum, may have retreated to one of his known bunkers. Ukraine also targeted Kronstadt, Putin’s naval port near St Petersburg, where fire broke out at a key military training facility. Unverified reports suggested submarines at the Baltic Fleet headquarters were hit. A drone strike on the V. A. Fock Institute of Physics in Petrodvorets (Peterhof) caused an explosion, while Moscow’s air defenses intercepted multiple Ukrainian drones. Elsewhere, a massive fire engulfed the Poltava oil depot in Ust-Labinsk, Krasnodar region, covering 54,000 square feet. Ukrainian forces also claimed control over Hell’s Highway (P-280 route), forcing Russia to ban civilian and child transport on key occupied territories. The strikes disrupted Crimean supply routes, including rerouted flights in southern Russia. Occupied Mariupol was struck again, adding to the chaos in Russia’s war efforts. The attacks followed Zelensky’s warning of potential internal dissent in Putin’s regime if the war continued without resolution. Ukrainian strikes appear aimed at destabilizing Russian military logistics and morale.
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