Ukraine launched a significant strike on the outskirts of Russia’s St Petersburg just hours before the commencement of a prominent economic forum aimed at drawing foreign investment into the country. As dawn broke, black smoke billowed over Russia’s second-largest city, where President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to address the financial gathering on Friday. The event is expected to host thousands of guests from 130 countries, including a modest US delegation.

Local authorities reported that air defenses intercepted 59 drones overnight, impacting three districts of St Petersburg, though no casualties were reported. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Moscow would respond to these strikes, stating, “Our responses will be systemic in nature.” The incident led to disruptions in mobile internet services and a temporary closure of St Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport. Nearby regions in Latvia and Estonia also issued air raid alerts.

Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian drones targeted several locations in Russia, including an oil terminal and a naval base in Kronstadt, a key outpost of the Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet. Unverified social media videos showed drones approaching docked military ships, with footage cutting off before impact. Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s unmanned systems, claimed on Telegram that the corvette Boikiy was hit.

The St Petersburg Economic Forum, once known as the “Russian Davos,” remains a significant event on Russia’s political calendar. Before Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it attracted high-profile Western delegations, including CEOs and state leaders. This year, a low-profile US delegation, led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr., head of the US Commission of Fine Arts, is set to participate. Notable attendees include US right-wing commentator Candace Owens and actor Steven Seagal, known for his support of Putin.

In a light-hearted post on X, Denys Shtilierman of Ukrainian defense company Fire Point remarked on the distinguished guests and the event’s importance, humorously noting their urgent “visit” to St Petersburg, accompanied by videos of drones and smoke.

Since the onset of Russia’s invasion four years ago, Ukraine has bolstered its defense sector, enabling it to frequently target sites within Russia, particularly energy infrastructure and oil facilities, which are perceived as sustaining the Russian war effort. Meanwhile, Moscow continues its assaults on Ukrainian cities, leading to regular civilian casualties. On Monday night alone, at least 22 people were killed in combined missile and drone strikes across Ukraine.

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