This is a game-changer. Ukrainian forces have just landed a blow that will send shockwaves through the Kremlin. In an unprecedented attack, drones struck deep inside Russian territory, hitting targets in and around St Petersburg. That’s not Crimea. That’s not even the border. That’s the birthplace of the Russian revolution, a city Putin calls his own. The message is clear: nowhere is safe.
Details are still sketchy. But early reports indicate multiple drones penetrated Russian air defences, a feat many thought impossible. Sources inside the Ministry of Defence are calling it a “significant escalation.” One told me, “The gloves are off. This changes the calculus for everyone.”
Let’s be blunt about the politics here. Putin has spent years cultivating an image of invincibility. He told his people the war was far away, that their lives would go on as normal. That illusion is now shattered. The bombing of St Petersburg brings the conflict home in a way nothing else has. Expect panic in the corridors of power. The security services will be scrambling to explain how this happened. And Putin? He faces a choice: retaliate massively, or look weak. Neither option is good.
For Western allies, this is a diplomatic minefield. Do they cheer Ukraine’s boldness? Or fear the escalation? Behind the scenes, you can bet the phone lines are burning. Washington and London will be urging restraint. But Kyiv has shown it will not be dictated to. This attack was planned and executed with precision. It sends a signal that Ukraine can and will hit strategic targets wherever they are.
What does this mean for the ground war? On the front lines, morale will be boosted. Ukrainian soldiers will see that their leaders are willing to take risks. Russian troops, already demoralised, will wonder if their own families are safe. It’s a psychological blow that could shift the momentum.
But let’s not get carried away. One attack does not win a war. Russia still has overwhelming firepower. And Putin may now feel he has nothing to lose. The next few days will be critical. We are watching a conflict that is accelerating, not slowing down. This is a moment history will remember.
I’ll have more as it develops. For now, the message from Whitehall is one of deep concern. The game has changed.
