Ukrainian drones strike St. Petersburg oil facilities before 'Putin's Davos'

Ukrainian drones launched strikes on energy and military installations near St. Petersburg, Russia, early on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. The attacks targeted the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, a major fuel storage and export facility, and the Kronstadt naval base, resulting in significant fires and plumes of black smoke visible across the city. St. Petersburg's main airport temporarily suspended flights, causing delays and diversions.

These strikes occurred just hours before the opening of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), an annual event often referred to as "Putin's Davos." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the operation, characterizing it as a strategy of "long-range sanctions" aimed at disrupting Russian facilities contributing to the war effort. The attacks followed a major wave of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine the previous day, which resulted in numerous casualties.

The timing of the drone assaults is seen as a deliberate move to embarrass Moscow during its flagship economic summit, highlighting Ukraine's capability to hit targets deep within Russian territory.