Key facts
- Ukrainian drones reportedly struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg on July 4.
- Social media footage purports to show smoke and fire at the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal.
- The terminal is one of Russia's largest fuel storage and export facilities.
- The extent of damage is not immediately clear.
- Ukraine has not officially commented on the alleged strikes.
Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted an oil terminal in St. Petersburg in the early hours of July 4, according to Russian media channels. Social media posts showed plumes of smoke and fire rising from the port area. Explosions were heard around 6:30 a.m. local time amid reports of drones over the region.
The St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, located on the Gulf of Finland, is described as one of Russia's largest fuel storage and export facilities, with an annual throughput of 12.5 million tons. The extent of the damage remains unclear, and Ukraine's military has not yet commented on the incident.
St. Petersburg, situated approximately 1,100 kilometers from Ukraine's border, has historically been less frequently targeted due to its strong air defenses. However, recent advancements in Ukrainian drone technology have enabled strikes on previously fortified cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.
This reported attack comes a month after Ukrainian forces targeted the city during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and days after Russia conducted its largest-ever missile and drone assault on Kyiv. President Putin had vowed to continue large-scale strikes on Ukrainian cities following the attacks on the capital.
In response to escalating Russian attacks on its cities, Ukraine has continued to target Russian oil and energy infrastructure, a critical source of revenue for Moscow's war efforts. These recent strikes have reportedly contributed to fuel shortages in at least 20 Russian regions, with residents sharing videos of long queues at gas stations.