In the early hours of June 3, St. Petersburg experienced a series of drone attacks that resulted in explosions heard across several districts, including Admiralteysky and Vasilievsky. Local media reported that the city’s oil terminal was set ablaze, with videos circulating on social media showing the aftermath of the strikes.
Authorities confirmed that while there were injuries, no fatalities were reported. Governor Alexander Beglov stated that infrastructure in Kronstadt, Kirovsky, and Krasnoselsky districts sustained damage. He noted, “Several facilities were affected. Cleanup efforts are currently underway. A few people were injured, but there were no deaths.”
The attacks come just as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is set to begin, with President Vladimir Putin expected to attend. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later acknowledged the strikes, asserting that they targeted significant Russian assets, including the oil terminal in St. Petersburg, which is located approximately 1,100 kilometers from Ukraine’s border.
“This night, important facilities on Russian territory were hit, including the St. Petersburg oil terminal and military targets at the Kronstadt base,” Zelensky stated, adding that additional strikes occurred at a facility in the Tambov region associated with Russian arms production.
Witnesses reported hearing explosions around 5 AM, leading to significant disruptions at Pulkovo Airport, where numerous flights were delayed and redirected. Mobile internet services in the city were also restricted, affecting access to various websites.
This drone assault on St. Petersburg is noted to be one of the most extensive to date, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The St. Petersburg oil terminal, situated in the southeastern part of the city, is one of the largest liquid cargo terminals in the Baltic region, with a storage capacity of 12.5 million tons per year.
The International Economic Forum runs from June 3 to June 6, and the oil terminal is located approximately 17 kilometers from the venue. Governor of Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko reported that around 50 drones were intercepted over the region during the attacks.
In Michurinsk, Tambov Region, a factory named Progress was reported to be on fire, with local officials stating that the damage was caused by falling drones. No injuries were reported from this incident.
In the Smolensk Region, two emergency responders lost their lives due to drone debris during firefighting efforts, while two firefighters and a civilian sustained minor injuries. Additionally, in the occupied part of Donetsk, local authorities claimed that a drone struck a bus traveling from Moscow to Simferopol, resulting in seven deaths and 11 injuries, though these claims remain unverified.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 354 Ukrainian drones were shot down during the night, including over Leningrad and Moscow regions, but did not specify how many managed to evade interception.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, various sites across Russia and occupied territories in Ukraine have been targeted by airstrikes. The Ukrainian General Staff has confirmed many of these attacks, stating that they aim to diminish the combat capabilities of Russian forces and compel Russia to cease its military aggression against Ukraine.
St. Petersburg faced significant drone strikes early on June 3, damaging infrastructure and disrupting airport operations. While injuries were reported, no fatalities occurred. The attacks coincide with the start of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region.