Russia Confirms Drone Attack on Oil Terminal and Infrastructure in St. Petersburg

Authorities in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, and the surrounding Leningrad region confirmed on Saturday that a local port and oil infrastructure were targeted by a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack overnight. Alexander Beglov, the Governor of St. Petersburg, stated that the city, home to approximately six million residents, endured a "widespread" drone assault, with the city's oil terminal being a specific target. Beglov confirmed that no casualties were reported and the consequences of the attack were effectively managed. Separately, Alexander Drozdenko, the Governor of the Leningrad region, announced that drones had targeted the port of Vyssotsk, situated approximately 170 kilometers northwest of St. Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland. This port is vital for shipping oil, grain, coal, and liquefied natural gas. Drozdenko added that the region's air defenses successfully shot down 72 drones. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Saturday that his country's military had targeted oil and military facilities near St. Petersburg during the night. Zelenskyy posted on Telegram that "Ukrainian defense forces targeted oil infrastructure in ports that generate revenue to finance the Russian war, and also struck Kronstadt, an important military target located more than 850 kilometers from the Ukrainian border."