War in Ukraine: Ukrainian drones hit Saint Petersburg where the economic forum opens

Ukrainian drones hit energy and military sites in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday June 3 morning, the opening day of the traditional economic forum bringing together many Russian leaders, Russian and Ukrainian officials said. Some 20,000 guests from 130 countries are expected to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an annual three-day event and once Russia’s main event for attracting Western investors and businesses.

These strikes come the day after a wave of Russian missile and drone fire which left 23 dead across Ukraine. The city’s Russian governor, Alexander Beglov, indicated that “several” infrastructures had been damaged but that no one was killed in this attack, intended according to Ukrainian officials to disrupt this forum where Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected and is due to give a speech on Friday.

Airport closed for several hours

Drones struck the St. Petersburg oil terminal and the Kronstadt military base in the city, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. It is the latest in a series of reprisal attacks that kyiv describes as “long-range sanctions”. “Ukraine’s plan for long-range sanctions is being implemented exactly as needed to bring peace closer,” he said on social media, posting a video showing an oil depot in flames.

These attacks forced Saint Petersburg’s main airport to close for several hours during the night. “The St. Petersburg Forum opens with a nice plume of black smoke in the background after the Ukrainian strikes,” wrote Serguiï Sternenko, advisor to the Ukrainian Defense Minister, on social networks, posting a video showing delegates going to the location of the protest with smoke visible in the background.Â