Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces conducted drone strikes on Russian territory during the night of June 6. The attacks specifically targeted military arsenals and a naval base in Kronstadt, near St. Petersburg, as well as an oil depot in the Krasnodar region.
In a message posted on Telegram, Zelensky stated, “This war needs to end. However, the Russian leadership wishes to continue fighting. Therefore, Ukrainian sanctions are in effect against this aggression. Our drones traveled approximately 1,000 kilometers to reach the enemy’s naval arsenals and base in Kronstadt, and our long-range capabilities struck an oil depot about 500 kilometers away in Krasnodar. These are significant results of the joint efforts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service, and military intelligence.”
The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces provided additional details about the strike on the Baltic Fleet’s naval base in Kronstadt. They reported that several drones successfully hit their targets, resulting in a fire at the base, which is a key component of Russia’s naval capabilities. The base hosts military ships, submarines, training centers, and repair docks.
Earlier on June 6, authorities in the Leningrad region and St. Petersburg reported a large-scale drone attack. Leningrad Governor Alexander Drozdenko mentioned that 141 drones were allegedly shot down over the region, while St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov warned residents about potential disruptions to mobile internet and advised them to stay indoors. This was the first time Beglov made such a public appeal.
Debris from the drones was reported to have fallen in the Luga, Volosovo, and Lomonosov districts of the Leningrad region. Drozdenko noted that the Ministry of Defense was working to extinguish a fire near the settlement of Velikaya Izhora.
Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova+ reported that the 15th arsenal of the Russian Navy, a strategic site responsible for the storage, maintenance, and disposal of naval munitions, was among the targets struck in Velikaya Izhora. Additional damage may have occurred at the Cadet Naval Corps in Kronstadt, the Petergof oil depot, and the Marine Heat Engineering Research Institute in Lomonosov, which is crucial for underwater weapon development. Witnesses in St. Petersburg reported hearing explosions.
Reports of drone strikes and fires also emerged from other regions of Russia and occupied territories. Monitoring channels indicated that the port in occupied Mariupol and an oil depot in Zugres, located in the occupied part of Donetsk, were affected.
According to the Russian service of Radio Free Europe, an oil depot was also ablaze in Ust-Labinsk, Krasnodar Krai. Explosions and fires were reported in the city of Kuzlovaya in the Tula region, and a fire occurred at the Antipinsky Oil Refinery in Tyumen, although it remains unclear if this incident was related to drone attacks. The distance from Ukraine to Tyumen exceeds 2,000 kilometers.
No official Russian data regarding the extent of the damage has been released so far.
St. Petersburg, where an international economic forum is taking place from June 3 to 6, had previously been targeted by Ukrainian forces on June 3. Reports indicated that an oil terminal in St. Petersburg and the corvette “Boykiy” in Kronstadt were hit, with satellite images confirming the fire and damage. Russian authorities have not acknowledged the strikes on these specific targets.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, various sites across Russian territory and in areas occupied by Russia in Ukraine have experienced airstrikes. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed many of these attacks, stating that Ukrainian defense forces are systematically implementing measures to diminish the combat capabilities of Russian occupying forces and to compel Russia to cease its armed aggression against Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces executed drone strikes on Russian military installations near St. Petersburg, targeting key naval assets and an oil depot. The attacks, confirmed by President Zelensky, are part of ongoing efforts to undermine Russian military capabilities amid the ongoing conflict.