Russian authorities said Ukraine carried out a major overnight drone attack on St Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region, with one of the country's key Baltic Sea ports reportedly struck during the assault.
St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said the city, which has a population of around six million people, faced a "large-scale" drone attack. However, he did not provide details about the specific locations that were targeted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also confirmed the attack in a post on his X account (formerly known as Twitter).
Last night, our Ukrainian long-range sanctions against Russia over this war reached targets near St. Petersburg. Ukraine's Defense Forces struck port oil infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia's war, and there were also successful strikes on Kronstadt – an important… pic.twitter.com/bMHY3cL3rM
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 4, 2026
Fire Reported at Oil Terminal
Local media outlet Bumaga reported that a fire broke out at St Petersburg's oil terminal following the attack. Russian officials have not officially confirmed the extent of the damage at the facility.
The reported strike has raised concerns because the terminal plays an important role in handling oil supplies in the region.
Port of Vysotsk Also Comes Under Attack
Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko said Ukrainian drones also hit the Port of Vysotsk, located about 170 kilometres (105 miles) northwest of St Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland.
The port is an important transport hub that handles exports and shipments of oil, grain, coal, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Russian Air Defences Shoot Down Dozens of Drones
According to Drozdenko, Russian air defence systems intercepted 72 drones over the Leningrad region during the overnight attack. Officials did not immediately provide information about casualties or the full extent of the damage caused by the strikes.
Ukraine Steps Up Attacks on Russian Energy Sites
Ukraine has increased its drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure this year as part of its broader military strategy. These strikes have disrupted fuel supplies in several parts of Russia and have forced authorities to deal with temporary shortages in some regions.
St Petersburg Remains a Target
Although St Petersburg lies about 900 kilometres (560 miles) from Ukrainian-controlled territory, it has periodically been targeted by Ukrainian drones.
Previous attacks have focused on strategic locations, including the city's oil terminal and a Russian warship that was docked during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in June.