Ukraine Unleashes Massive Drone Barrage on Russia, Striking Oil Depot Near St. Petersburg
In one of the largest drone attacks this year, Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia overnight, targeting key energy infrastructure and causing significant disruptions. The assault included a strike on an oil depot near St. Petersburg, which Ukraine’s military says will hamper Russian strategic aviation. “The destruction of the oil depot raises major logistic challenges for the strategic aviation of the Russian occupiers and significantly reduces their ability to strike at peaceful Ukrainian cities and civilian objects,” Ukraine’s military stated. The attack also hit a data centre belonging to internet company VK in the Leningrad region, though its services remained operational.
The strikes forced operations at St. Petersburg’s main airport to be restricted “for safety reasons,” according to Al Jazeera. Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported that 145 drones were shot down in the region, leaving about 20,000 people without electricity. No injuries were reported, and the incident remained under investigation. The attack is part of a broader pattern: Ukraine has previously targeted Saratov, a city over 600 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, though Russian air defenses had mostly thwarted those attempts. This time, however, the sheer volume of drones appears to have overwhelmed defenses in some areas.
The timing of the assault is notable, coming shortly after US President Donald Trump defended his decision to waive key Russia-related sanctions and tariffs before they took effect. Trump’s stance had raised questions about US support for Ukraine, but intelligence sharing between the two countries has reportedly resumed after being “blocked for some period of time.” Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry claimed on Monday that it had captured the eastern town of Kurakhove in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, as it circles in on the strategic city of Pokrovsk. The drone attack underscores Ukraine’s continued ability to strike deep into Russian territory, even as ground battles rage in the east.
The massive drone barrage highlights Ukraine’s growing reliance on unmanned systems to offset Russia’s numerical advantages. By targeting oil depots and logistics hubs, Ukraine aims to degrade Russia’s capacity to sustain its invasion. The attack near St. Petersburg, a major economic and cultural center,
Shimanta Das 
