Key facts
- Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on St. Petersburg on October 18, 2026.
- 57 Ukrainian drones were shot down in Leningrad Oblast.
- Targets included port infrastructure, oil tankers, and a data center.
A large-scale overnight drone attack on St. Petersburg on October 18, 2026, resulted in reports of significant fires and explosions. Ukrainian monitoring channels Exilenova+ and Supernova+ described the attack, which began around 2:50 a.m. local time, as "massive." Eyewitness footage depicted drones in the air and the city's air defense systems in operation, with large explosions visible. Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko of Leningrad Oblast stated that 57 Ukrainian drones were intercepted in the region, and debris from one drone damaged four cars in a parking lot, also causing a reported fire. According to the monitoring channels, targets included the city's port infrastructure, oil tankers, and a data center, with multiple sites appearing to be ablaze. The St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, a major fuel storage and export facility, is located within the city's port.