Ukrainian drones struck energy and military facilities in Saint Petersburg early Wednesday as the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) began, according to Russian and Ukrainian officials. The attacks damaged the Saint Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Kronstadt military base, where a Russian warship was hit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. He described the strikes as part of Ukraine's "long-range sanctions" strategy, posting a video of an oil depot on fire. Saint Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov confirmed "several" infrastructure facilities were damaged but reported no fatalities. The city's main airport closed for hours overnight, disrupting flights including services from Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.
The forum, attended by around 20,000 guests from 130 countries, opened despite the strikes. President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to deliver a keynote address on Friday. Ukrainian adviser Sergiy Sternenko remarked on the visible plume of smoke from the conference venue, saying the forum opened "with a nice plume of black smoke in the background." The timing of the attack followed a wave of Russian strikes across Ukraine that killed 23 people. Additional Russian attacks killed two in Kherson and two in Kharkiv, local Ukrainian officials said. NATO chief Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on the same day.
Once known as "Russia's Davos," SPIEF has seen declining attendance from Western leaders since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This year's participants include the presidents of Uzbekistan and Tanzania, alongside ministers from Cuba, Belarus, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Kremlin economy envoy Kirill Dmitriev called the forum a gathering of "sovereign countries," contrasting it with "globalist" events like Davos. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who condemned Russian strikes on Ukraine the previous day, will speak at a panel on the environment Friday. The US delegation includes Rodney Mims Cook Jr, who will join a session titled "Russia–US: A Cultural Dialogue." Attendees also include right-wing commentator Candace Owens, actor Steven Seagal and representatives from Germany's Alternative for Germany party.
Volodymyr Zelensky frames drone attacks as "long-range sanctions" while Russian strikes kill 23 in Ukraine days earlier. The tit-for-tat violence plays out as both sides target symbolic infrastructure and high-profile gatherings. No attendees at the Saint Petersburg forum were harmed, but civilians in Kherson and Kharkiv died in similar attacks. The symmetry of retaliation offers no path to peace, only escalating risk for non-combatants caught in the crossfire.
💡 NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
