Ukrainian Drone Attack Targets St. Petersburg Oil Terminal

Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on an oil terminal in St. Petersburg on Saturday, according to Russian officials. This forms part of Kyiv’s ongoing strategy to target Russia’s oil infrastructure amid the prolonged conflict. Almost daily attacks on Russian oil facilities have led to a fuel shortage and increased political pressure on the Kremlin as the war in Ukraine extends into its fifth year.

Gov. Alexander Beglov reported that the Kirovsky district of the city, situated on the Baltic Sea, was targeted. He also mentioned that air defenses intercepted 72 Ukrainian drones across St. Petersburg and its surrounding areas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the operation as part of Ukraine’s “long-range sanctions” and stated that their forces also hit a military target on the Kronstadt island near St. Petersburg. “The Ukrainian defense forces hit the port oil infrastructure, which earns money for the Russian war, and there were also hits on Kronstadt — an important military target,” Zelenskyy posted on Telegram.

The Kirovsky district was previously attacked in June, ahead of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Attacks have intensified on the Crimean peninsula, leading authorities to suspend gasoline sales. On Saturday, an incident resulted in one fatality and two injuries, including that of a child, according to the Moscow-installed Gov. Sergei Aksyonov.

Ukrainian attacks bring the war home

President Vladimir Putin has downplayed the significance of Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities, viewing them as attempts to divert attention from battlefield developments. Analysts, however, have noted a stall in Russian advancements in recent months.

On Friday, Putin visited the military headquarters steering the conflict in Ukraine, receiving updates on the capture of Kostyantynivka. He described the city’s capture as vital for advancing toward Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, key strongholds in the Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control. Putin emphasized Kostyantynivka’s strategic importance during televised comments.

Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy announced that Ukrainian forces had been pushed back, with fighting continuing on the outskirts of Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka. “The city is now under our full control. Units of the Southern Army Group are completing the clearance of city blocks, rooting out small groups and individual Ukrainian fighters who may still be hiding in basements and ruins,” he noted.

Zelenskyy countered Russian claims, labeling them false. “If Kostyantynivka were under Russian control, then perhaps Putin would have no problem meeting me there to find a diplomatic way to finally end this war,” he asserted on social media.

Zelenskyy also aimed a message at former U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting Putin’s narrative is misleading during America’s Independence Day celebration.

Despite the escalating attacks, Putin believes the government can mitigate the fuel crisis without losing support for the war. Nonetheless, these incidents bring the conflict’s reality to Russian civilians, challenging the notion that the war does not impact their daily lives.

Reports indicated that Ukraine’s drone strikes on Belgorod left much of the city without power. In contrast, eight individuals, including two children, were injured due to Russian attacks on the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia, according to local authorities.

Follow the coverage of the war in Ukraine on AP News.