SAINT PETERSBURG: Ukra­inian drones struck energy and military facilities in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday, casting a pall of black smoke over the city as international officials gathered for Russia’s flagship annual economic forum.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attacks “fair” retaliation for Russia’s ongoing bombardment and warned of further strikes.

The assault targeted the Saint Petersburg oil terminal and the Kronstadt naval base, where the commander of Ukraine’s drone forces said a Russian warship was hit.

The strikes injured several people and damaged infrastructure, Saint Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said, noting there were no fatalities. The Kremlin vowed to respond systemically to the attack, which occurred a day after Russian missiles and drones killed 23 people across Ukraine.

Kyiv drones strike oil terminal and naval base, disrupt flagship economic forum

Ukrainian officials said the strikes were aimed at disrupting the Saint Petersburg Intern­ational Economic Forum. The three-day event, once dubbed “Russia’s Davos”, expects 20,000 attendees from 130 countries, though it now largely features representatives from Moscow-allied nations following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

“The Petersburg forum is opening with a nice plume of black smoke in the background after Ukrainian strikes,” Sergiy Sternenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian defence minister, said.

Smoke was visible from the venue as delegates gathered ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s keynote address scheduled for Friday.

Since the 2022 invasion, the forum has become a snapshot of Russia’s isolation. While former summits hosted Western leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron, this year’s prominent attendees include the presidents of Uzbekistan and Tanzania, alongside UN Secretary-General Anto­nio Guterres.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2026