Ukrainian drone attack hits Saint Petersburg killing one person and igniting fires

A large Ukrainian drone attack targeted Saint Petersburg on Sunday, killing at least one person, France 24 and Al Jazeera reported. France 24 added that five people were hospitalised during the strikes on Russia's second-largest city. Russian media described the strike as one of the largest on the area since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, according to Euronews. [1][3][5][10]

The drone strikes set an oil refinery and depot ablaze, France 24 reported. Euronews and Al Jazeera both reported that the attack targeted an oil terminal as well as a data centre belonging to the VK social networking service. Social media videos showed multiple explosions around the port of Saint Petersburg and fires across the surrounding Leningrad region, according to Al Jazeera and Euronews. [1][2][3]

Kyiv accused Russia of violating an energy ceasefire negotiated by Washington dozens of times, according to France 24 and Al Jazeera. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian forces struck Ukraine's energy sector across four regions on Saturday night, Euronews reported. Zelenskyy added that Russian attacks on residential buildings killed two people and injured 12 others overnight, Euronews and Al Jazeera reported. [1][3][5]

In response to the strikes, the Kremlin stated that Ukrainian attacks will not change Russia's war aims, AFP reported. Saint Petersburg is the second-largest city in Russia and is located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland. [9][10]