War in Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelensky’s army targets Saint Petersburg, Vladimir Putin’s hometown, a snub for the Russian president

Thick black smoke was visible for miles around in St. Petersburg, Russia, this Wednesday morning. Residents shared photos and videos on social networks. The Ukrainian army struck the oil terminal in Vladimir Putin’s hometown in the early hours. The governor of Saint Petersburg indicates on Telegram that “several” infrastructures were damaged, but that no injuries were reported. He made no comment on the fire at the oil terminal and added that fifty Ukrainian drones were shot down.

A strike hit one of Russia’s largest oil terminals in St. Petersburg just hours before the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum begins. pic.twitter.com/VlwWFl7FrY

— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 3, 2026

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Saint Petersburg, a prime target

The place and date owe nothing to chance. Saint Petersburg is organizing its traditional International Economic Forum. This three-day event welcomes 20,000 guests from 130 countries. This “Russian Davos summit” has long been Russia’s main meeting point for attracting Western investors.

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It is 1,100 km from the border

Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on He specified that Ukraine carried out these strikes 1,100 km from its border with Russia. The targeted company specializes in military aviation and missile technology, it is the Progress factory in Michurinsk, according to The Kyiv Post.

The operation was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine, Unmanned System Forces, Special Operations Forces, Defense Intelligence of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service, details The Kyiv Independent.

These strikes on Saint Petersburg come the day after a wave of Russian missile and drone attacks which left 23 dead and more than 100 injured in kyiv, Dnipro and other cities in Ukraine. The Ukrainian government warned a few days ago that Russia was planning to launch a new massive air attack.