Ukrainian long-range drones reportedly struck energy and military-related sites in and around St. Petersburg early Wednesday, just hours before Russia opened its flagship annual economic forum in the city, creating an embarrassing moment for the Kremlin as international guests arrived for the high-profile event.
The attacks reportedly targeted oil storage facilities, the Kronstadt naval base and shipyard, and other strategic locations in the broader Leningrad region. Russian air defenses attempted to intercept the drones, but several reportedly reached their targets. Videos shared on social media appeared to show explosions, smoke and flames rising from parts of the city’s industrial areas.
St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said the Kirovsky and Krasnoselsky districts were among the areas affected. Ukrainian officials later suggested that the strikes were part of Kyiv’s expanding campaign to hit Russian infrastructure far from the front line.
The timing of the attack made it especially sensitive for Moscow. St. Petersburg was preparing to host the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, often described as Russia’s answer to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to deliver a keynote speech at the event on Friday.
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The forum has long been used by the Kremlin to present Russia as economically resilient and globally connected. Before Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the event attracted major Western executives and investors. Since then, most Western companies and leaders have stayed away, while Russia has increasingly turned to friendly governments, regional partners and political allies.
This year’s gathering is reportedly expected to bring thousands of visitors from more than 100 countries. Guests include officials and figures from countries with closer ties to Moscow, as well as several controversial Western personalities. The Kremlin has sought to frame the forum as evidence that Russia is not isolated despite sanctions and diplomatic pressure from the West.
The drone strikes, however, undercut that message. Images of thick black smoke rising near the city created a stark contrast with Moscow’s effort to project stability, control and international influence. Reports also said that St. Petersburg’s airport was temporarily closed, affecting some arrivals.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attacks as part of Ukraine’s so-called “long-range sanctions,” a phrase Kyiv has used to refer to strikes on Russian military, energy and logistics infrastructure. He said Ukrainian forces had hit important facilities on Russian territory, including the Petersburg oil terminal, the Kronstadt base and a weapons-related facility in the Tambov region.
Zelenskyy said the oil facility was roughly 1,100 kilometers, or about 680 miles, from Ukraine’s border, highlighting the growing reach of Ukraine’s drone program. He thanked Ukrainian forces for what he called their precision and said such operations were intended to bring peace closer by increasing pressure on Russia’s war machine.
Ukraine has increasingly relied on long-range drones to target oil depots, refineries, ports, military factories and airfields inside Russia. Kyiv argues that these sites support Russia’s invasion and therefore represent legitimate military or economic targets. Moscow, meanwhile, has condemned Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory and continues to launch missile and drone attacks across Ukraine.
The latest reported strikes came after another major wave of Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. According to Ukrainian officials, Russian missiles and drones killed more than 20 people and injured many others earlier in the week. Zelenskyy has again urged the United States and other allies to provide more air defense systems, including Patriot interceptor missiles, to help protect Ukrainian cities from Russian attacks.
The St. Petersburg incident also comes as Ukraine attempts to show that it can impose costs on Russia despite being outmatched in conventional firepower. By targeting energy and military infrastructure deep inside Russian territory, Kyiv is trying to disrupt logistics, reduce fuel supplies and force Moscow to divert air defenses away from the front line.
For the Kremlin, the strikes represent both a security challenge and a political embarrassment. St. Petersburg is Putin’s hometown and one of Russia’s most important symbolic cities. An attack near the opening of a major international forum sends a message that even politically sensitive and heavily defended areas are not fully beyond Ukraine’s reach.
Russian officials have attempted to use the forum to emphasize ties with what they describe as “sovereign” countries willing to work with Moscow despite Western pressure. Officials from several non-Western countries are expected to attend, and Russia is likely to use the event to promote investment, trade and diplomatic partnerships outside Europe and North America.
Still, the drone strikes are likely to dominate attention around the opening of the forum. Instead of focusing only on economic deals and speeches, the event now begins under the shadow of war, smoke and questions about Russia’s ability to protect strategic sites far from the battlefield.
Why It Matters
The reported strikes matter because they show Ukraine’s growing ability to hit targets deep inside Russia, including near one of the Kremlin’s most important political and economic showcases. The timing adds symbolic weight, as Moscow was preparing to present the St. Petersburg forum as proof that Russia remains stable and internationally connected.
The attacks also highlight how the war is increasingly being fought beyond the front lines. Energy facilities, ports, military bases and logistics hubs have become central targets as both sides seek to weaken the other’s ability to sustain the conflict.
What Comes Next
Russia is likely to increase security around St. Petersburg and other major cities, especially during high-profile political and economic events. Moscow may also respond with further drone and missile strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Ukraine, meanwhile, is expected to continue expanding its long-range drone campaign as it seeks to pressure Russia’s military and economy. Kyiv will also keep pushing Western allies for stronger air defenses, arguing that Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians make additional support urgent.
Reuters reported that thick smoke was seen rising over St. Petersburg as explosions were heard following a reported Ukrainian drone strike ahead of the city’s economic forum.
Thick gray smoke was seen rising over St. Petersburg, Russia, as the sound of explosions could be heard following a reported Ukrainian drone strike https://t.co/mbIqK1RyDJ pic.twitter.com/FzMeDTWNBj
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 3, 2026
