Ukraine strikes St. Petersburg oil terminal with massive drone swarm, Russia says 72 UAVs downed

The attack

Ukrainian drones targeted an oil terminal in the Kirovsky district of St. Petersburg overnight, according to Governor Alexander Beglov. The strike hit the facility, causing what Beglov described as "technogenic" consequences that were quickly resolved. No injuries or fatalities were reported at the terminal.

The strike hit the area of an oil terminal in the Kirovsky district. The technical consequences have been resolved. There were no casualties.

Air defense response

Russian air defense systems intercepted 72 unmanned aerial vehicles over the city, Beglov said. One of the downed drones crashed onto the grounds of the Peterhof historical complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, but caused no damage or injuries. The governor had earlier urged residents to stay indoors during the attack.

Air defense forces shot down 72 unmanned aerial vehicles, one of which crashed at Peterhof. There were no casualties or damage.

Escalation of energy infrastructure strikes

Kyiv has intensified strikes on Russian energy infrastructure this year, causing fuel shortages in some regions. The St. Petersburg attack is among the deepest into Russian territory since the war began, targeting a city of 6 million people far from the front lines. A Russian fuel-tracking website, GdeBENZ, was also rendered inaccessible by a DDoS attack on Friday, according to Le Monde.

Broader context

The drone assault came as European NATO members and Canada prepared to commit €70 billion in military aid to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027 at an alliance summit in Ankara on July 7–8, without US participation. Meanwhile, a 10-year-old girl died in hospital after being wounded by Russian shelling in Lozova, Kharkiv oblast, on Friday, regional officials said.