Ukraine has intensified its military strategy by launching extensive drone attacks on Russian facilities, including a naval base near St. Petersburg. This escalation occurred on the final day of a Kremlin-sponsored international forum, often referred to as ‘Putin’s Davos.’
Drone Strikes and Their Impact
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that drones traveled approximately 1,000 kilometers to reach the St. Petersburg region, targeting enemy navy arsenals and a base in Kronstadt. The strikes resulted in injuries to three individuals, according to St. Petersburg’s governor, Aleksandr Beglov, who advised residents to stay indoors due to potential disruptions in mobile internet services.
In addition to the naval base, Ukraine’s long-range operations extended to the Krasnodar region, where an oil depot was set ablaze. Ukraine’s security service reported that at least three tanks containing petroleum products were engulfed in flames, emphasizing the depot’s strategic importance for Russian military fuel supplies.
Russian Response and Ongoing Tensions
Russian emergency services confirmed the fire at the oil depot, leading to evacuations and the deployment of over 50 firefighting units. Meanwhile, a separate fire at the Tyumen oil refinery in the Urals was attributed to a technical malfunction, though the timing raised suspicions of coordinated attacks.
Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko of the Leningrad Region reported that 141 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted, with debris found in various areas. Efforts to control a fire in Bolshaya Izhora, where more than 600 people were evacuated, were ongoing. This village houses a Russian naval arsenal, further highlighting the strategic nature of the attacks.
Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces confirmed that several drones successfully reached their targets at the Kronstadt naval base, causing fires on the premises. The town of Kronstadt, home to multiple Russian naval facilities, was temporarily closed to traffic.
Both Ukraine and Russia continue to deploy drones against each other’s territories, with Ukraine’s long-range drones increasingly effective in targeting Russian energy and military infrastructure. The Ukrainian military reported that Russia launched 272 drones overnight, with 249 intercepted, resulting in impacts at 11 locations.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
