Ukraine launched one of its largest long-range drone attacks on Russia’s St. Petersburg region overnight, striking oil infrastructure and a key naval facility more than 850 kilometers (530 miles) from the Ukrainian border, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy shared a video on X that appeared to show explosions and fires at the targeted sites, saying the operation hit oil facilities near St. Petersburg that help fund Russia’s war effort as well as the Kronstadt naval base.
Last night, our Ukrainian long-range sanctions against Russia over this war reached targets near St. Petersburg. Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck port oil infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia’s war, and there were also successful strikes on Kronstadt – an important… pic.twitter.com/bMHY3cL3rM
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 4, 2026
“Last night, our Ukrainian long-range sanctions against Russia over this war reached targets near St. Petersburg. Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck port oil infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia’s war, and there were also successful strikes on Kronstadt – an important military target,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
“My thanks to everyone who is ensuring Ukraine’s precision and carrying out our long-range sanctions plan. Glory to Ukraine!” he added.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces had downed more than 500 aerial targets overnight, including mostly drones and 10 Flamingo missiles. “Zelensky’s attempt to cause damage to civilian targets in the Russian Federation will not go unanswered by the armed forces of Russia,” the ministry said in a statement Saturday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed the attacks on energy infrastructure, describing them as “not critical.”
Russian authorities did not confirm Zelenskyy’s claim that the Kronstadt naval base had been struck. Ukraine also targeted the base in a drone attack last month.
Kyiv has stepped up long-range strikes against Russian energy infrastructure this year, targeting facilities that generate revenue for Moscow’s war effort.
Elsewhere, officials said Ukrainian drone attacks killed one person in Russia’s Bryansk region and another in Russian-occupied Crimea, with several others wounded.
Farther south, Pskov region Gov. Mikhail Vedernikov said Russian air defenses shot down more than 30 drones overnight. He reported minor damage and injuries, including at a factory in the town of Velikiye Luki.
