Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on 4/7 that the country's forces conducted coordinated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks on oil infrastructure at the port in St. Petersburg and a military facility in Kronstadt, Russia.
"The attack last night hit oil infrastructure at the port, which generates revenue for Russia's campaign, as well as a significant military target in Kronstadt", Zelensky said, adding that the targets were located over 850 km from the Ukrainian border.
Ukraine's Special Operations Forces Command (SOF) confirmed that their UAVs attacked the St. Petersburg Oil Port Terminal. Some UAVs successfully reached their targets, causing a fire at the facility.
Ukrainian President Zelensky posted a video announcing the UAV attack on targets in St. Petersburg, Russia. *Video: X/@ZelenskyyUa*.
The St. Petersburg Oil Port Terminal is one of the main centers in the Baltic region for exporting Russian oil products, with an annual processing capacity of about 12,5 million tons. Oil and gas products from this port are exported to Africa and the Middle East.
St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov confirmed that an oil storage depot in the city's Kirovsk district was attacked and that a "technical incident" had been resolved.
Beglov added that Russian air defense forces shot down 72 UAVs, one of which fell on Peterhof Palace, but caused no casualties or damage. Peterhof Palace is a large estate comprising gardens and palaces built in the 18th century during the reign of Russian Tsar Peter I.
According to Leningrad Governor Alexander Drozdenko, debris from shot-down UAVs also fell in the Vysotsk port area, north of St. Petersburg and near the border with Finland.
Ukraine is intensifying attacks deep inside Russian territory, as part of a "40-day long-range punitive operation" aimed at pressing Moscow to accept negotiations.
Ukrainian UAV attacks have caused fuel shortages in Russia, forcing the country to seek gasoline and diesel imports. President Vladimir Putin has urged the military to improve air defense systems and work to overcome the fuel shortages.
*Ngoc Anh (According to AFP, Reuters)*
