Ukraine has carried out a long-range drone strike on an oil facility in St Petersburg, Russia, which is over 500 miles away from the border.
According to Russian media, three drones were launched towards the city, which is Vladimir Putin’s hometown. Two of the drones were reportedly shot down in the Gulf of Finland while a third drone is said to have exploded between two fuel tanks.
St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov confirmed the attack but stated that no one was injured. This is the first assault on the northern city, which is about 1,000 kilometres from Ukraine, since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Moreover, Russian authorities reported a missile attack on Belgorod, a city near the border with Ukraine.
Ukrainian security services sources have told Kyiv Post that a drone used in the St Petersburg strike flew over Vladimir Putin’s Valdai residence.
According to the security source, the Kyiv Post reported that the oil terminal was damaged, but no specific details were provided.
The source also stated that during the mission “one of the drones flew over Valdai, where the personal estates of the Rothenbergs, Kovalchuk and one of Putin’s palaces are located.”
Putin’s Valdai residence is located in Russia’s Novgorod region, halfway between St. Petersburg and Moscow.
A large blaze has also reportedly broken out at an oil storage facility in Klintsy in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast.
According to the governor of Bryansk Oblast, the fire is thought to have started after a Ukrainian drone was allegedly shot down.
Governor Alexander Bogomaz, told Russia state media: “The unmanned aircraft was neutralised by electronic warfare assets of the Russian Ministry of Defence.
“During the destruction of the aerial target, there was an unintended release of ordnance in the area of the Klintsy oil depot.
“Early reports indicate that there are no casualties. Fires have been reported in the damaged reservoirs.”
