Ukraine Hits St Petersburg With 1,015-Drone Barrage as Energy Ceasefire Dispute Deepens
Updated
Updated · Financial Times · Oct 18
Ukraine Hits St Petersburg With 1,015-Drone Barrage as Energy Ceasefire Dispute Deepens
3 articles · Updated · Financial Times · Oct 18
Summary
Fires at St Petersburg’s oil terminal, a power substation, an Ozon warehouse and a VK data centre marked Ukraine’s biggest-ever drone attack on Russia’s second city, killing one person and injuring nine.
Kyiv pressed ahead after pausing refinery strikes because Russia kept hitting Ukrainian energy sites despite the Trump-announced ceasefire; Zelenskyy said more than 76 attacks hit Ukraine’s energy, oil and gas facilities in the past week.
Russia said it shot down 1,015 drones nationwide on Sunday, including 146 over St Petersburg and 512 around Moscow, while airports in both cities shut for hours and parts of St Petersburg lost power.
The strikes sharpen a widening rift with Washington, which had urged Kyiv to stop targeting Russian energy infrastructure, waived new sanctions on Russian energy exports and was accused by Zelenskyy of helping Moscow while Russian attacks continue.
How will Ukraine's rapidly expanding domestic drone production alter the conflict if diplomatic support wanes this winter?
Will Russia's newly formed unmanned systems regiment successfully counter the devastating impact of Ukraine's deep-strike campaign on its energy infrastructure?