In brief
Ukraine’s military announced an overnight attack on a major oil terminal in St Petersburg, citing the strike as damaging to Russian war finance. The target, handling 12.5 million tonnes of petroleum each year, reportedly suffered extensive damage with black smoke observed. Russian officials denied casualties, while the governor said 72 drones were shot down. This assault follows a series of drone strikes that have reportedly disabled nearly 43% of Russia’s oil‑refining capacity. Amid increasing fuel shortages, President Putin has admitted Ukraine’s impact on the domestic market, but no confirmation of damage to the naval base was provided.
A major oil terminal in Russia’s north‑western city of St Petersburg was struck overnight by Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Zelensky described the target as key "infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia’s war" and added a major naval base in the region was hit as well.
St Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov admitted the terminal was damaged but said there had been no casualties and that 72 Ukrainian drones had been shot down over the city.
Ukraine has intensified long‑range drone attacks on Russian energy sites, reportedly disabling nearly 43% of Russia’s oil‑refining capacity. The BBC has not independently verified the figure.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who last week admitted fuel shortages stemmed from Ukrainian attacks, signed a bill to boost domestic fuel supplies.
The terminal, described by Ukrainian forces as "one of the largest" in Russia, produces 12.5 million tonnes of petroleum products annually and is believed to be one of the last major supplies to the Russian fuel market.
Images posted by Zelensky show a drone approaching the target and a massive column of black smoke rising after the strike.
In a related development, Ukraine’s military denied that the eastern town of Kostyantynivka is under full Russian control, contradicting a claim made by President Putin.
Russian defence ministry said it shot down more than 500 Ukrainian drones and missiles during this period, criticizing the attacks as a distraction from larger offensive operations.
Both sides appear to be using strategic attacks ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Turkey.
