Ukrainian drones hit St. Petersburg oil terminal ahead of ‘Russian Davos’

Ukrainian long-range drones targeted an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, igniting a fire and causing black smoke over the city’s port, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Wednesday. The drones traveled over 600 miles to reach the terminal, marking the latest in a series of long-range strikes by both sides in the ongoing war. St. Petersburg’s airport temporarily suspended flights, and mobile internet services were cut off following the attack. The strike occurred as St. Petersburg hosted Russia’s annual international economic forum, an event the Kremlin views as a prestige platform akin to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. President Vladimir Putin is set to speak at the forum on Friday, though major Western investors and officials have largely stayed away since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This year, Saudi Arabia is the special guest country, sending a large business delegation. Zelenskyy framed the attack as an embarrassment for Putin, who had scaled back Moscow’s Victory Day parade earlier this year due to fears of Ukrainian drone strikes. The strikes follow a Russian drone and missile barrage on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities the previous day, which killed at least 22 civilians and wounded 138, as Moscow escalated its regular attacks. Ukraine’s air defense capabilities remain strained, particularly after U.S. Patriot missile stocks were depleted by conflicts in Iran. Zelenskyy criticized his own government’s delays in finalizing the purchase of Patriot systems, citing bureaucratic hurdles, and warned of potential personnel consequences if the issue is not resolved. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday to discuss air defense needs with Ukrainian officials. The long-range strikes reflect both sides’ efforts to gain an advantage amid stagnant battlefield movement, with drones playing a growing role in disrupting infrastructure and military operations. Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil terminals aim to curb Moscow’s revenue, while Russia’s deep strikes target Ukrainian cities, marking a shift toward systematic escalation, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.