St. Petersburg, Jun 07 (V7N) – Ukraine has launched a large-scale drone attack targeting Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, in what Russian authorities have described as an "unprecedented attack," further escalating tensions between the two countries amid the ongoing war.
Russian officials said more than 140 drones were intercepted and destroyed over the surrounding Leningrad region during the operation. In an extraordinary security measure, residents of St. Petersburg were instructed to remain indoors as authorities worked to assess and contain the situation.
Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, said the attack caused a fire at an unidentified military facility and prompted the evacuation of several nearby areas. He added that no major casualties had been reported.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky defended the operation, stating that Ukrainian forces had successfully targeted a Russian military arsenal and naval facility.
Describing the strike as a “just response” to Russian aggression, Zelensky said Ukrainian drones struck targets in the St. Petersburg region from a distance of approximately 1,000 kilometers. He also claimed that an oil storage facility in Russia's southern Krasnodar Krai region was hit during the operation.
The attack comes at a sensitive moment as discussions surrounding a potential ceasefire and direct talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky continue to attract international attention.
Russia has accused Ukraine of attempting to destabilize the country through long-range attacks on strategic infrastructure and military assets. Ukrainian officials, however, argue that such operations are designed to weaken Russia's military capabilities and reduce its ability to sustain the war.
The latest exchange highlights the growing reach of drone warfare in the conflict and underscores the challenges both sides face as hostilities continue with no immediate end in sight.
As diplomatic efforts remain uncertain, the strike on St. Petersburg marks one of the most significant Ukrainian drone operations deep inside Russian territory since the war began.
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