In brief
Late on Tuesday, Ukrainian drones struck St. Petersburg’s oil terminal and a second oil depot, killing one person and injuring at least five. Governor Alexander Beglov reported the firefighting crews and the damage to other local infrastructure, including a logistics hub operated by Ozon and a data center of VKontakte. The attack comes as Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian energy sites after a brief halt tied to a U.S. energy deal, while Russia counters with a large-scale drone interception effort. Civilian services such as mobile internet and air traffic at Pulkovo Airport were disrupted, highlighting the broader economic impact of the conflict. Critics argue that targeting civilian energy infrastructure escalates the war’s humanitarian toll.
Late Tuesday night saw a coordinated drone strike on the St. Petersburg oil terminal and a second oil depot that left the city grieving one death and five injured. The governor, Alexander Beglov, confirmed that firefighting crews were battling flames at both sites and that the attack had damaged nearby infrastructure.
In addition to the oil facilities, Ukrainian drones struck the logistics centre run by Russia’s Amazon-like retailer Ozon and a data centre operated by the VKontakte network. Ozon reported evacuations and no injuries, while VK claimed its services remained operational after the hit.
The assault comes amid Ukraine’s resumed attacks on Russian energy assets following a temporary pause linked to a U.S.‑Russia diesel deal. Moscow says it reacts by shooting down over 1,000 Ukrainian drones across its territory in the previous 24 hours.
The strikes have forced the temporary closure of Pulkovo Airport and potential disruption to mobile internet. Residents of twelve apartment blocks and two private homes sustained damage, and the city’s governor warned of possible outages in essential services.
International observers highlight the increasing intensity of energy-targeted warfare, with critics arguing it exacerbates the strain on civilians as winter approaches. Both sides continue to exploit each other’s economic lifelines, raising concerns over broader geopolitical stability and the long‑term humanitarian impact of sustained conflict.
