Key facts
- Ukraine launched drone attacks on an oil terminal and a naval base in St. Petersburg.
- Russian forces reported downing over 140 drones in the Leningrad region and near Moscow.
- Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg temporarily suspended flights due to drone activity.
- The drone attacks occurred during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
- Russian war supporters Oleg Tsaryov and Aleksey Chadaev doubt Russia can achieve total victory in Ukraine.
- President Vladimir Putin criticized Western sanctions and dismissed claims of a stalled Russian economy.
- Social media personalities Candace Owens and the Tate brothers visited Russia.
- Russia-U.S. talks on economic and energy issues are continuing.
- A drone attack in Donetsk killed seven and injured eleven.
Ukraine conducted drone attacks on St. Petersburg, Russia, targeting an oil terminal and a naval base on Wednesday morning, hours before President Vladimir Putin's annual economic forum was scheduled to begin. Russian authorities reported downing approximately 50 drones over the Leningrad region and an additional 20 near Moscow. Operations at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg were temporarily suspended, leading to flight delays and disruptions. The attacks continued on the closing day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, with Russian forces reportedly downing over 140 drones in total across the region. Governor Alexander Beglov confirmed damage and some injuries resulting from the strikes. These drone attacks significantly overshadowed the economic forum, which was intended to highlight Russia's economic resilience and strength.
Beyond the immediate security concerns in St. Petersburg, the broader context reveals internal discussions within Russia regarding the conflict in Ukraine. Prominent Russian war supporters, including Oleg Tsaryov and Aleksey Chadaev, are reportedly expressing doubts about President Putin's ability to achieve a complete victory in Ukraine. This sentiment emerges against a backdrop of intensified Russian air attacks, which some interpret as an effort to mask struggles on the battlefield. Concurrently, President Putin criticized Western sanctions, characterizing them as detrimental to the global economy and rejecting claims of a stalled Russian economy. He also dismissed an offer from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet.
Adding another layer to the international narrative surrounding Russia, social media personalities Candace Owens and the Tate brothers have visited the country. The Kremlin has framed these visits as indicative of improving international relations, a narrative that contrasts with reports of Russian battlefield setbacks and potentially declining public sentiment within Russia. Separately, Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev indicated that Russia-U.S. talks concerning economic and energy issues are ongoing, distinct from the stalled peace negotiations regarding Ukraine. Dmitriev mentioned discussions with U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on these topics, as well as global stability.
Separately, a drone attack in Donetsk resulted in seven fatalities and eleven injuries.