Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Wednesday that Kyiv successfully struck key Russian facilities in overnight attacks, including the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal. The facility is located approximately 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) from Ukraine's border, as Zelenskyy wrote on the US social media platform X, underscoring Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities.
Details of the Attacks
Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian forces also targeted military installations at Russia's Kronstadt base. Additionally, a weapons-production enterprise in Russia's Tambov region, nearly 600 kilometers (373 miles) from the front line, was hit. These strikes demonstrate Ukraine's ability to conduct deep strikes into Russian territory.
Russian Official Confirms Damage
Russia's St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov reported on Telegram that infrastructure facilities in the Kronstadt, Kirovsky, and Krasnoselsky districts were targeted by Ukrainian drones early in the morning. He confirmed that several facilities were damaged, though he did not specify which ones. “Cleanup efforts are currently underway. Several people were injured. There were no fatalities,” Beglov said.
The attacks occurred ahead of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, scheduled from June 3-6, which is expected to attract 20,000 participants from 100 countries.
Impact on Russian Oil Industry
On Monday, Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian forces had struck 15 Russian oil refineries between January and May. He claimed that nearly 40% of Russia's primary oil refining capacity was offline as of May, highlighting the significant impact of Ukraine's campaign on Russia's energy infrastructure.
