Ukraine launches drone strikes on St. Petersburg oil facilities

Ukrainian drones struck energy and military sites in St Petersburg early Wednesday, hitting oil storage facilities and producing loud explosions along with columns of black smoke above the city. Russian air defences attempted to intercept the drones but failed to prevent the impacts. Several long-range drones crashed into the facilities after the unsuccessful interception attempts.

Forum preparations disrupted The strikes occurred hours before international guests gathered for the city’s flagship economic forum. Guests arrived for the opening ceremony under a pall of thick smoke, and the city’s airport was temporarily closed, preventing some arrivals.

About 20,000 visitors from 130 countries are expected to attend the three-day summit. The forum has drawn presidents of Uzbekistan and Tanzania along with ministers from Cuba, Belarus and Saudi Arabia.

strikes The attacks came one day after a barrage of Russian missiles and drones killed 23 people across Ukraine and injured scores more. Ukrainian officials renewed calls for additional U.S. Patriot interceptor missiles following the Russian barrage.

In recent months Ukraine has conducted long-range drone strikes on Russian ports, oil storage sites, military factories and airbases. The strikes have also targeted tankers and trucks on a road linking occupied southern Ukraine with Crimea. >"I thank our warriors for their precision.

" Moscow’s economy envoy described the forum as a gathering of sovereign countries and criticised globalist rivals who attended the Davos meeting in January. The envoy said countries of the global south are moving toward partnership with Russia and will be strongly represented.