Russia announced on Tuesday night that it had shot down hundreds of drones over its territory, including about 60 over the Leningrad region, in the ongoing attack on Ukraine, a major economic forum said.
St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said three districts were targeted as part of a nighttime drone attack by Ukraine, injuring several people and damaging infrastructure.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed more than 350 Ukrainian drones not only in areas close to the border, but also in far-flung areas of Moscow, St. Petersburg and western Novgorod.
Ukraine launched an attack on “critical infrastructure facilities” in the western Russian city of Smolensk, near the border with Belarus, Smolensk Governor Vasily Anokhin said.
Anokhin added that two firefighters were killed “during firefighting operations caused by debris from a downed enemy drone,” while two other firefighters and a civilian sustained minor injuries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the “long-range strikes” hit “key targets” including the St. Petersburg oil terminal, one of Russia’s largest oil transshipment facilities in northwest Russia.
Other targets included “military objectives at the Kronstadt base,” an island military port near St. Petersburg, and facilities in the Tambov region that Ukraine claimed were involved in the production of Russian weapons, Zelenskiy added.
President Zelenskiy also posted footage showing an explosion and multiple fires at a Russian facility, with a huge plume of black smoke billowing behind a skyscraper.
Ukraine this year rapidly developed medium- and long-range drones to attack Russian targets, including oil facilities in Moscow and locations far beyond the front lines.
“Ukraine’s long-range strike plans are being carried out as needed to bring peace closer,” Zelenskiy said.
The attack occurred as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), a major business event known as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s version of Davos, was held in the city on Wednesday.
Airspace around St. Petersburg International Airport was restricted on Wednesday morning, leading to the delays of about 20 flights, the airport said in a statement.
It also comes a day after Russia launched a deadly barrage of fire against Ukraine early Tuesday, hitting the capital Kiev and the central city of Dnipro, making it one of the deadliest attacks in months.
Ukrainian authorities said at least 23 people were killed in overnight attacks, including seven in Kiev and 16 in Dnipro.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he “strongly” condemned the attack, which the military said launched more than 600 drones and dozens of missiles into Ukraine, hitting key civilian infrastructure.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
