Ukraine drones hit Saint Petersburg as ‘Russian Davos’ opens in the city
Ukrainian drones struck energy and military targets in Saint Petersburg early Wednesday, June 3, as Russian officials and international delegates gathered in the city for a major economic forum, according to Russian and Ukrainian authorities.
The attacks came as around 20,000 guests from 130 countries were expected to attend the three-day Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), an annual event often described as “Russia’s Davos”. Saint Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said “several” infrastructure facilities were damaged in the drone strikes, although no fatalities were reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the drones targeted the Saint Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Kronstadt military base, describing the operations as part of what Kyiv calls “long-range sanctions” against Russia. “Ukraine’s plan for long-range sanctions is being implemented exactly as needed to bring peace closer,” he said, sharing footage showing a burning oil depot.
The commander of Ukraine’s drone forces also claimed a Russian warship was hit at the Kronstadt naval base, posting video footage purporting to show the strike. The attacks reportedly forced the temporary closure of Saint Petersburg’s main airport overnight and caused delays to several flights from Moscow.
Russian officials said the Kremlin would respond to the strikes, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that Moscow’s response would be “systemic in nature”. The strikes came a day after Russian missile and drone attacks killed at least 23 people across Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials.
Meanwhile, separate Russian strikes on frontline Ukrainian regions killed four people, local authorities said, as NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv. Ukrainian officials said Russia also launched widespread drone interceptions overnight, with air defences reportedly downing hundreds of drones across multiple regions.
The conflict has continued to escalate, with both sides intensifying strikes on energy and military infrastructure, while diplomatic tensions remain high. Despite the violence, the Saint Petersburg forum is expected to proceed, with President Vladimir Putin scheduled to attend and deliver a keynote address later in the week.
The event, once known for attracting Western leaders and investors, now largely features representatives from allied and non-Western states, reflecting Russia’s shifting international partnerships since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022.