Ukraine on Saturday said its long-range drones struck targets deep inside Russia overnight, including a military facility near St Petersburg and an oil depot in the southern Krasnodar region, as the war continued to escalate with both sides reporting fresh battlefield gains and aerial attacks.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the strikes targeted “the enemy navy’s arsenals and a base in Kronstadt” in Russia’s northwestern St Petersburg region, while another attack hit an oil depot in Krasnodar, according to Reuters.In a post on X, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian drones travelled about 1,000 kilometres to reach the St Petersburg region and around 500 kilometres to strike the Krasnodar target.“It is time to end this war. But Russia’s ruler wants to keep fighting,” Zelenskyy wrote, adding that “Russia must end its war and stop its attacks on life. Any manifestation of injustice against Ukraine will receive a just response.”
St Petersburg residents told to stay indoors
The attack prompted authorities in St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, to advise residents not to leave their homes, highlighting Ukraine’s growing ability to strike deep inside Russian territory.St Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov warned residents of a “large-scale” drone attack and possible disruptions to mobile internet services.According to news agency AP, regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said 141 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region, while Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its air defences intercepted 376 Ukrainian drones nationwide.No casualties were immediately reported.The latest strike follows a Ukrainian drone attack earlier this week that set fire to an oil terminal and hit a naval base near St Petersburg.
Russia claims capture of village in Kharkiv
Separately, Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had captured the settlement of Shevchenko in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region.Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the village was taken after what the ministry described as “decisive actions” by units of Russia’s North military grouping.
Fresh attacks reported on both sides
The latest developments come as both Russia and Ukraine continue long-range drone campaigns while fighting along largely static front lines.According to AP, one person was killed and three others were wounded in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region after Russian drone and artillery strikes overnight.In the Zaporizhzhia region, five people sought medical treatment after a Russian drone attack sparked a fire in a parking area.Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 272 strike drones overnight, of which 249 were intercepted.The renewed exchanges also come a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s proposal for a face-to-face meeting, saying he saw “no point” in such talks.
