Ukraine Launches Major Drone Strikes on Russian Naval Base and Oil Terminal

Ukraine has carried out a significant drone strike targeting a critical oil terminal in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city. The operation, conducted under the cover of night, marks a strategic escalation in Kyiv's campaign against Russian energy infrastructure.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy identified the facility as a vital source of revenue for Russia’s war machine. Additionally, Kyiv has claimed that it also struck a key naval base in the region.

Strategic Strikes on Energy Infrastructure
President Zelenskyy stated that the oil terminal, located in northwestern Russia, serves as a major financial pillar supporting the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

In recent months, Ukraine has intensified long-range drone strikes on Russian energy assets, aiming to cripple the logistics and funding behind Moscow’s military operations.

Kyiv asserts that these campaigns have rendered approximately 43% of Russia’s oil refining capacity ineffective, though these figures could not be independently verified.

Recognizing the mounting pressure, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a decree aimed at boosting domestic fuel supplies, implicitly acknowledging the fuel shortages caused by the strikes.

Governor Acknowledges Attacks
St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov confirmed the city faced a "major" drone assault. While he acknowledged the strike on the oil terminal, he reported that there were no casualties.

Governor Beglov stated that a total of 72 Ukrainian drones were shot down over St. Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region. He advised residents to remain indoors and warned of potential disruptions to mobile internet services.

The targeted terminal is one of Russia’s largest, with an annual production capacity of approximately 12.5 million tons of petroleum products.

Video footage shared by President Zelenskyy showed a drone approaching its target, followed by thick black smoke rising from the site.

Ongoing Tensions and Military Claims
The attacks occurred approximately 850 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, highlighting the increasing range of Kyiv's drone capabilities.

Furthermore, Ukraine alleges that its forces successfully hit a critical facility at the Baltic Fleet’s naval base in Kronshtadt, though Russia has yet to issue a public comment regarding this specific claim.

Amidst the aerial campaign, fierce fighting continues on the ground. On Saturday, the Ukrainian military refuted claims that the strategic eastern town of Kostyantynivka had fallen to Russian forces.

Major Andriy Kovalyov, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military, confirmed that the town remains under the control of Ukrainian defense forces, noting that small Russian infantry units that had infiltrated the area were being neutralized.

This stands in direct contrast to claims made by President Putin a day earlier, who asserted that Russia had established control over the town in June without providing supporting evidence.

Responding to these claims on Telegram, President Zelenskyy challenged the Russian leader, stating, "If Kostyantynivka were truly under Russian control, Putin would have no issue meeting me there to seek a diplomatic solution to end the war. But he will never come to the front line. Reality is completely different from his words."