Ukrainian drone strikes targeted St Petersburg on Thursday as President Vladimir Putin’s flagship economic forum opened in the city, raising further questions about Russia’s ability to protect its symbolic heartland. The attacks, which reportedly struck industrial and energy infrastructure on the outskirts of Russia’s second city, came hours before Putin was due to address the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The forum, once a showcase for Russia’s integration into global markets, this year has been overshadowed by the war in Ukraine, Western sanctions, and internal instability.
Local authorities confirmed that air defence systems intercepted several drones, but falling debris caused fires at an oil depot and a nearby industrial facility. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Ukrainian military has not formally claimed responsibility, but a source close to the operation told Reuters that the strikes were part of a broader campaign to “disrupt Russia’s war economy and remind its citizens that the war is not far away.”
The timing of the assault is significant. SPIEF, traditionally a gathering of international investors and business leaders, has seen its prestige dwindle since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This year’s event is struggling to attract major foreign delegations, with only a handful of sanctioned states sending representatives. Putin’s keynote speech, scheduled for Friday, is expected to focus on economic resilience and import substitution, but the drone strikes have already cast a pall over the proceedings.
The attack also underscores a worrying trend for the Kremlin: the steady advance of Ukraine’s drone programme, which has repeatedly struck deep inside Russian territory in recent weeks. From oil refineries in Krasnodar to military airfields in Voronezh, Ukrainian drones have demonstrated a growing ability to penetrate Russia’s layered air defences. St Petersburg, a city of 5 million people and a symbol of imperial and Soviet power, has largely been spared such attacks until now. Its proximity to the border with Finland, some 300 kilometres away, and its status as the home of the Putin era’s most opulent events, make it a potent target.
Analysts suggest the psychological impact may outweigh the tactical damage. “St Petersburg is Putin’s city, the seat of his power base and a symbol of Russian greatness,” said Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. “To have drones buzzing overhead as he tries to project normality is a profound humiliation.” The Kremlin’s response was characteristically defiant. Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press secretary, described the attacks as “terrorist acts” and vowed that Russia’s military would “continue its mission to demilitarise Ukraine and protect the homeland.” However, the incident compounds a series of recent setbacks for Russian forces, including a failed offensive in Kharkiv and the sinking of several Black Sea Fleet vessels.
For the international community, the strikes on St Petersburg serve as a reminder that Ukraine’s war effort is not confined to the front lines. The use of domestically produced drones, often assembled from commercial components, has allowed Kyiv to strike targets that would otherwise require long-range missiles from Western nations. The Biden administration has so far declined to provide such missiles, citing fears of escalation. But as Ukraine’s allies continue to debate the limits of their support, the strikes on St Petersburg may shift the calculus.
In the short term, the attack is likely to harden positions on both sides. Russia’s security services will face renewed scrutiny over their inability to protect the homeland, while Ukraine’s military planners will weigh the merits of further deep strikes. The economic forum, meanwhile, will continue under heightened security, a symbol of how the war has infiltrated every corner of Russian life. As Putin prepares to address a diminished audience, the drones over St Petersburg offer a stark counterpoint to his narrative of strength.
