Ukrainian long-range drones struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg and set it ablaze, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) as the Russian city hosted an annual international economic forum promoted by President Vladimir Putin.

The drones flew more than 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) to hit the terminal, Mr. Zelenskyy said on social media. Clouds of black smoke rose over the city’s port after the attack.

Russian authorities said only that the Ukrainian drone strike targeted the city’s infrastructure, without providing further details. The airport of St. Petersburg briefly suspended flights overnight because of the attack. Authorities also cut off mobile internet services.

Mr. Putin is set to speak on Friday (June 5, 2026) at the economic forum in St. Petersburg that the Kremlin views as a prestigious event, although major Western investors and officials have stayed away since Russia invaded Ukraine more than four years ago. Saudi Arabia is a special guest country this year and is due to send a large business delegation.

The strikes are an embarrassment for Mr. Putin, weeks after he had to prune back an annual Victory Day parade in Moscow due to fears of Ukrainian drone attacks.

The strikes came a day after Russian forces launched a massive drone and missile attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing at least 22 civilians and wounding 138, as Moscow followed through with its threat of escalating its regular barrages.

With the front line changing little as swarms of drones hinder battlefield movement, both sides have sought an edge by increasingly launching long-range strikes. The war that followed Russia’s invasion of its neighbour has now stretched into its fifth year, with no end in sight.

Ukraine’s attacks are aimed at diminishing Russia’s oil production, which is a key source of funding for Moscow, and disrupting weapon production.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted oil facilities at the port of St. Petersburg and nearby ports.

Ukrainian drone attacks overnight also hit the Kronstadt naval base, an old base for Russia’s Baltic Fleet, and a manufacturing plant involved in weapon production in Russia’s Tambov region, 600 kilometres (370 miles) from Ukraine, Mr. Zelenskyy said.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said that air defences downed 354 Ukrainian drones overnight.

In the Russia-controlled part of Ukraine’s Donetsk region, a Ukrainian strike hit a bus that was travelling from Moscow to Crimea, killing seven and injuring 11, according to the Kremlin-appointed head of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin.

In the Smolensk region, two firefighters were killed by a Ukrainian drone attack, according to the regional governor, Vasily Anokhin. He said 2 other firefighters and a local resident were injured.

Meanwhile, Russia fired 198 long-range drones at Ukraine last night, according to Ukraine’s air force, with air defences neutralising 189.

Authorities in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region said that over the previous 24 hours, one civilian was killed and 15 more were injured, including 3 children, by Russian strikes.

In the southern Kherson, Russian overnight shelling and drone strikes killed an 86-year-old woman and wounded 5 other people, according to regional authorities.

Ukraine launched more than 280 drones at Russia overnight, one of Kyiv’s largest barrages since the start of the war, Russia’s State news agency reported, citing the Defence Ministry.

Around 90 drones were shot down in the southern Rostov region, its governor Yuri Slyusar posted on Telegram.

Moscow’s Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, in a series of posts, reported that 27 drones headed to the capital had been intercepted.

Two people were wounded in drone attacks that damaged several houses in southwestern Saratov region, its governor Roman Busargin posted on Telegram.

State news agency Tass reported that 283 drones in total had been intercepted, according to Russia’s Defence Ministry.

In retaliation for Russian attacks that have targeted its territory daily since 2022, Kyiv regularly strikes within Russia, saying it primarily targets military and energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators are set to meet in the United States on Saturday (March 21, 2026), according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a bid to revive stalled negotiations aimed at ending the four-year war.

Mr. Zelensky said on Friday (March 20, 2026) that Kyiv’s negotiators will seek clarity from U.S. officials on the next round of three-way talks with Russia, postponed due to war in the Middle East that began late last month.