Ukraine hits major oil terminal in Russia’s St Petersburg

BBC:

A major oil terminal in Russia’s second city of St Petersburg in the north-west was struck overnight by Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

He described it as key “infrastructure that generates revenue for Russia’s war”. Ukraine also said a major Russian naval base in the region was hit.

St Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov said the city was under a “massive” drone attack, admitting the oil terminal was hit. He reported no casualties.

Ukraine has recently intensified its long-range drone attacks on Russia’s critical energy infrastructure, causing widespread fuel shortages. Kyiv says nearly 43% of Russia’s oil refining capacity has been “disabled” as a result.

The claim has not been independently verified.

Ukraine says Russian oil and gas facilities are legitimate targets as Moscow relies heavily on fossil fuel exports to continue its war effort.

Russian President Vladimir Putin – who last week made a rare admission of fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks – on Saturday signed into law a bill aimed at boosting supplies to the domestic fuel market.

Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelensky said on Saturday morning that the targets hit in St Petersburg and the surrounding region were about 850km (528 miles) from Ukraine’s border.

The extent of the damage was not immediately clear, but a video posted by the Ukrainian president showed a drone flying towards a target and a huge column of black smoke billowing from the area after the strike.

The BBC later verified that St Petersburg’s oil terminal was hit.

Ukraine’s military described the terminal as “one of the largest” in Russia, capable of producing 12.5 million tonnes of petroleum products per year.

The military also said a key naval base of the Russian Baltic Fleet in Kronstadt was hit.

Russia has not publicly commented on the claim.

Governor Beglov said that 72 Ukrainian drones were shot down over St Petersburg and the wider Leningrad region.