Ukraine launches 'large-scale' drone strike on St Petersburg

Ukraine has launched a huge drone assault on St Petersburg in a dramatic show of its ability to strike deep inside Russian territory, with the Kremlin reportedly branding the attack “unprecedented”. The barrage came as Russian authorities claimed more than 140 drones were brought down over the surrounding Leningrad region, while the country’s defence ministry said air defences intercepted 376 Ukrainian drones across Russia.

The latest barrage came on the final day of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, often dubbed the ‘Russian Davos’, just days after another Ukrainian drone strike targeted the city as the event got under way. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation had targeted key military infrastructure, including a naval base and weapons stockpiles. Writing on X, Mr Zelensky said: “Last night, our drones covered a distance of about 1,000 kilometres to the St. Petersburg region – to the enemy navy’s arsenals and a base in Kronstadt.” The latest strike came after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Mr Zelensky’s proposal for a face-to-face meeting aimed at reviving peace talks.”

Mr Zelensky added that Ukrainian forces had also struck energy infrastructure further south.

“Our long-range sanctions (strikes) also reached about 500km into the Krasnodar region – and hit an oil depot,” he said.

According to reports, the drones travelled around 620 miles to reach the St Petersburg area, underlining Kyiv’s increasingly sophisticated long-range strike capabilities.

Leningrad Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said more than 140 drones had been shot down over the region, while Russia’s defence ministry put the total number intercepted nationwide at 376.

No casualties were immediately reported following the attack.

The latest strike came after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Mr Zelensky’s proposal for a face-to-face meeting aimed at reviving peace talks.

Mr Zelensky criticised the Kremlin leader’s stance, saying: “It is time to end this war. But Russia’s ruler wants to keep fighting.”

The attack is likely to be viewed as another challenge to Mr Putin’s efforts to portray the conflict as having little impact on everyday life inside Russia, with St Petersburg once again coming under attack despite its distance from the front line.

The developments also come ahead of fresh diplomatic efforts over the war. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is due to host Mr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in London for talks on the conflict.

Meanwhile, fighting continued across Ukraine overnight. Regional officials said one person was killed and three others injured in the Dnipropetrovsk region after Russian attacks involving drones and artillery.

In Zaporizhzhia, seven people sought medical treatment after a Russian drone strike caused a fire in a car park.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 272 strike drones overnight and claimed 249 were shot down.

Russia’s defence ministry also said its forces had captured the settlement of Shevchenko in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, although the claim could not be independently verified.