Ukraine Targets Key Oil Terminal in St Petersburg
Ukraine's military has struck a major oil terminal in Russia's second-largest city, St Petersburg, located in the north-west of the country. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the attack, describing the terminal as key "infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia's war." In addition to the oil terminal, Ukraine reported hitting a significant Russian naval base in the region.
St Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov confirmed the city was subjected to a "massive" drone attack and acknowledged that the oil terminal was hit, though he reported no casualties. The governor stated that 72 Ukrainian drones were shot down over St Petersburg and the wider Leningrad region. He urged residents to remain indoors until the drone threat subsides and warned of potential disruptions to mobile internet services. St Petersburg has a population exceeding five million people.
Ukraine's Intensified Drone Campaign Against Russian Energy Infrastructure
Ukraine has recently escalated its long-range drone attacks targeting Russia's critical energy infrastructure, which has led to widespread fuel shortages within Russia. Kyiv claims that nearly 43% of Russia's oil refining capacity has been "disabled" as a result of these operations, although this figure has not been independently verified.
Ukraine maintains that Russian oil and gas facilities are legitimate military targets, given Moscow's heavy reliance on fossil fuel exports to finance its ongoing war effort. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Details of the St Petersburg Attack
Zelensky stated on Saturday morning that the targets hit in St Petersburg and the surrounding region are approximately 850 kilometers (528 miles) from Ukraine's border. The extent of the damage remains unclear. However, a video posted by the Ukrainian president showed a drone approaching a target followed by a large column of black smoke rising from the area after the strike. The BBC later verified that the oil terminal in St Petersburg was indeed hit.
Ukraine's military described the oil terminal as "one of the largest" in Russia, with an annual production capacity of 12.5 million tonnes of petroleum products. The military also reported that a key naval base of the Russian Baltic Fleet located in Kronstadt was struck. Russia has not publicly commented on these claims.
Russian Fuel Crisis and Military Developments
Russia is experiencing a worsening fuel crisis as Ukraine intensifies strikes on occupied territories. President Putin has made rare admissions acknowledging fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks.
Situation in Kostyantynivka
In a separate development on Saturday, Ukraine's military denied reports that the key eastern Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka had fallen entirely under Russian control. Military spokesman Major Andriy Kovalyov told the BBC that:
"Kostyantynivka remains under the control of the Defence Forces of Ukraine."
He acknowledged that there have been "cases of infiltration by small infantry groups deep into the combat formations of our forces," but added that these groups were being identified and destroyed.
These comments followed Russian President Putin's claim that Russian control had been established over Kostyantynivka in June, a statement for which no evidence was provided.
Later on Saturday, Zelensky posted on Telegram:
"If Kostyantynivka is now under Russian control, then Putin will probably have no problem meeting me there and finding diplomatic solutions to finally end the war. But still, he will not cross the front line: the truth is very different from Putin's words."
Kostyantynivka is among several heavily fortified towns that constitute Ukraine's "fortress belt" in the Donetsk region, much of which remains under Russian occupation.
