Ukraine strikes St. Petersburg again, burning fuel terminals as Putin's forum closes
A second deep-strike raid in three days hit Russia's Baltic Fleet hub and a cluster of northwest fuel sites about 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine, forcing St. Petersburg's first stay-indoors order since 2022.
A second deep-strike raid in three days hit Russia's Baltic Fleet hub and a cluster of northwest fuel sites about 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine, forcing St. Petersburg's first stay-indoors order since 2022.
Ukrainian drones hit St. Petersburg again on June 6, three days after the first raid on Russia's second city, the BBC reported. The targets were the Kronstadt naval base and a cluster of oil sites. For the first time since the 2022 invasion, Governor Alexander Beglov told residents to stay indoors. Leningrad regional governor Alexander Drozdenko reported 141 drones downed over the region and called the attack "unprecedented."
Zelensky said the drones covered about 1,000 kilometers to reach Kronstadt, base of the Baltic Fleet, and the navy's arsenals. Ukrinform listed the Petergofskaya oil depot, the Neste oil terminal at Lomonosov, and the navy's 15th Arsenal. The ISW said geolocated footage confirmed strikes on the arsenal and the Kronstadt yard. Another drone burned the Ust-Labinsk oil depot in Krasnodar, 500 kilometers south, a fuel hub for Russian forces on the southern and eastern fronts.
Zelensky calls the oil strikes "long-range sanctions," aimed at Russia's war economy. ISW logged the effect: gasoline rationing in occupied Crimea and long queues at the Kerch Bridge. The strikes landed as Putin hosted his flagship investment forum in St. Petersburg, where he refused Zelensky's offer of direct talks and promised stronger air defenses.
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Subscribe Free →Russia answered overnight with 272 strike drones on Ukraine. The air force downed 249. Moscow's Defense Ministry claimed 376 Ukrainian drones shot down across several regions. Zelensky goes to London on Sunday to meet Starmer, Merz, and Macron, with air defense and longer-range strikes on the agenda.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Ukraine strike near St. Petersburg on June 6?
Ukrainian drones hit the Kronstadt naval base and oil sites including the Petergofskaya oil depot, the Neste oil terminal at Lomonosov and the navy's 15th Arsenal, per Ukrinform, with the Institute for the Study of War saying geolocated footage confirmed strikes on the arsenal and the Kronstadt yard.
How far did the drones fly?
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the drones covered about 1,000 kilometers to reach the St. Petersburg area, according to the BBC and Ukrinform.
Why does this count as the second strike in three days?
Ukraine first struck St. Petersburg as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum opened on June 3; the June 6 raid landed as the forum closed, the BBC reported. Governor Alexander Beglov told residents to stay indoors for the first time since the 2022 invasion.
Why is Ukraine hitting oil sites?
Zelensky calls the oil strikes "long-range sanctions" aimed at Russia's war economy. The Institute for the Study of War logged gasoline rationing in occupied Crimea and long queues at the Kerch Bridge as fuel distribution tightened.
How did Russia respond?
Russia launched 272 strike drones at Ukraine overnight and 249 were downed, the Ukrainian air force said. Moscow's Defense Ministry claimed it shot down 376 Ukrainian drones across several regions. Putin used the forum to refuse Zelensky's offer of direct talks and to promise stronger air defenses.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.