A Ukrainian drone attack targeted an oil terminal in St. Petersburg on Saturday, according to Russian officials. This assault is part of Ukraine’s ongoing operations against Russia’s oil-related assets as the conflict continues into its fifth year.
Governor Alexander Beglov reported that St. Petersburg’s Kirovsky district, located on the Baltic Sea, was affected. He noted that air defenses intercepted 72 Ukrainian drones over Russia’s second-largest city and nearby areas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized this offense as part of Ukraine’s “long-range sanctions” against Russia. He stated that Ukrainian forces also targeted a military site on Kronstadt Island, near St. Petersburg.
Zelenskyy explained, “The Ukrainian defense forces hit the port oil infrastructure, crucial for funding the Russian war. Additionally, Kronstadt, an important military site, was targeted.” Previously, the Kirovsky district suffered hits in June, preceding the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
The Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, reportedly faces significant strikes, prompting local authorities to suspend fuel sales to civilians. An attack on Saturday caused one fatality and two injuries, including a child, per Moscow-appointed Governor Sergei Aksyonov.
Despite frequent Ukrainian assaults on energy facilities, Russian President Vladimir Putin downplays their significance, describing them as “not critical.” He maintains the war will persist until his objectives are achieved, claiming Ukrainians are using these attacks to divert attention from their frontline deficits.
Putin recently visited the military headquarters for the Ukraine war and received updates on the capture of Kostyantynivka after intense combat. Highlighting its strategic significance, he discussed plans to capture Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, vital locations in Ukraine’s stronghold regions.
In a statement, Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy claimed control over Kostyantynivka, stating, “The city is fully under our command. Units are clearing blocks and confronting Ukrainian fighters still in hiding.” Zelenskyy refuted these claims, labeling them misinformation and questioning Putin’s reluctance to meet him for diplomacy.
Zelenskyy’s comments coincided with U.S. Independence Day, urging global leaders to recognize discrepancies in Russian narratives. Meanwhile, Russia contends with the growing impact of Ukrainian strikes, such as in Belgorod, disrupting power due to drone attacks.
In Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, a Russian assault injured eight, including two children, local reports indicated.