Drone Attacks on St Petersburg
Russian authorities have reported that Ukraine conducted an "unprecedented attack" involving drones on and around St Petersburg, coinciding with the final day of Russia's annual economic forum held in the city.
Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko stated that over 140 drones were intercepted and shot down in the surrounding Leningrad region. Meanwhile, Alexander Beglov, the governor of St Petersburg, advised residents to stay indoors for the first time since the conflict began more than four years ago.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Ukrainian forces targeted Russian arsenals and a naval base, describing the strikes as a justified response to Russian attacks.
This development follows Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks at the forum a day earlier, where he dismissed the possibility of meeting with Zelensky, who had called for direct negotiations to end the war.
Ukrainian Military Perspective
Yevhen Karas, commander of the 413th regiment Raid of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces and one of the commanders involved in the drone strikes, told the BBC that striking targets inside Russia was "very easy."
"We fly in Russia like it's our own territory. Almost no resistance, not hard to reach a target," Karas said.
Governor Drozdenko reported that the attacks caused a fire at an unspecified military facility and led to the evacuation of residents. He added that some buildings suffered "insignificant" damage.
Details of the Strikes
Zelensky stated that Ukrainian drones traveled approximately 1,000 km (620 miles) to reach the St Petersburg region, specifically targeting "the enemy navy's arsenals and a base in Kronstadt." Kronstadt is the primary base of the Russian Navy's Baltic Fleet.
Additionally, Zelensky mentioned that an oil depot located 500 km (310 miles) away in the southern Krasnodar region was also struck as part of Ukraine's "long-range sanctions," a term used to describe strikes on Russian infrastructure.
The Ukrainian president emphasized the urgency to end the war but accused Putin of wanting to continue the conflict.
Context of the Economic Forum and Diplomatic Efforts
These attacks occurred shortly after Ukrainian strikes targeted the outskirts of St Petersburg as Putin's flagship economic forum commenced. The forum aims to attract foreign investment and drew thousands of participants from 130 countries, including a subdued US delegation, the first in many years.
In an open letter to Putin dated Thursday, Zelensky called for a ceasefire and direct talks with the Russian leader to resolve the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Zelensky wrote that it would be "wrong to simply wait" for the conflict to regain US attention. While former US President Donald Trump has engaged in mediation efforts, recent focus has shifted to the war with Iran.
At the economic forum on Friday, Putin rejected Zelensky's request for a meeting and reiterated that a truce would only allow Ukraine to regroup. He stated that the war would end only when Russia's objectives were achieved.
Russia's longstanding position demands that Ukraine withdraw from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, which Russia has largely seized, and abandon aspirations to join NATO. Ukraine has refused to cede any territory, arguing that concessions would encourage further Russian aggression.
Situation in Russian-Occupied Luhansk
In the Russian-occupied Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, authorities installed by Moscow announced the suspension of coach services on two motorways following a series of Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian logistics. They advised local residents to avoid using these routes "for security reasons."
The Russia-backed administration also banned commuter train services and the transportation of groups of children within Luhansk.
Putin has asserted that Russia maintains full control over the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic."
Ukrainian Drone Campaign and Defence Development
In recent weeks, Ukraine's drone forces have intensified strikes on occupied areas within Ukraine, focusing on Russian logistics. An analyst told the BBC that since early May, over 200 lorries and more than 30 fuel trucks have been targeted.
Since the onset of Russia's invasion four years ago, Ukraine has developed its defence sector significantly. Kyiv now regularly conducts strikes within Russian territory, concentrating on energy infrastructure and oil facilities, which are considered vital to sustaining Moscow's military operations.
Russia has accused Ukraine of targeting civilian infrastructure during these operations.
