Ukraine don carry out drone strike for St Petersburg, Russia second city, just hours before di big economic forum wey President Vladimir Putin suppose address. As morning break, black smoke dey rise over di city, where thousands of guests from 130 countries dey gather for di St Petersburg Economic Forum, wey dem don call ‘Russian Davos’.
Local authorities say air defence shoot down 59 drones overnight, but three different districts of St Petersburg still get hit. No kill anybody, but mobile internet disrupt, and Pulkovo Airport close temporarily. Some parts of Latvia and Estonia even issue air raid alerts.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov say Moscow go respond to di strikes. ‘Our responses go be systemic in nature,’ he yarn on Wednesday.
Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirm say drones hit several locations for Russia, including oil terminal and naval base for Kronstadt town. ‘Di Ukrainian plan of long-range sanctions dey implement exactly as e need to bring peace closer,’ Zelensky write for social media, using euphemism for long-distance strikes on Russia.
Kronstadt na main outpost of Russian Navy Baltic Fleet. Unverified videos wey Ukrainian military figures post show drones dey head for docked military ships, but di video cut off before impact. Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine unmanned systems, say for Telegram say di corvette Boikiy get strike.
Di St Petersburg Economic Forum, wey dem once call ‘Russian Davos’, na flagship event for Russian political agenda. Before Moscow launch full-scale invasion of Ukraine for 2022, high-profile Western delegations, including CEOs and heads of state, dey attend. This year, for first time in nearly decade, low-key US delegation dey participate. Rodney Mims Cook Jr, head of US Commission of Fine Arts wey dey oversee President Donald Trump ballroom project for White House, lead di delegation. US right-wing commentator Candace Owens and Putin-backing US actor Steven Seagal also dey attend.
For tongue-in-cheek post on X, Denys Shtilierman of Ukrainian defence company Fire Point say: ‘Due to such distinguished guests and di importance of di event itself, we couldn’t ignore am – and urgently fly to [St Petersburg].’ Di post come with videos of drones crossing sky and thick black smoke dey billow from undisclosed locations for sea front.
For di four years since Russia invasion begin, Ukraine don develop booming defence sector. Kyiv dey regularly hit targets inside Russia, focus on energy infrastructure and oil facilities wey dem see as fuel for Russian war machine. On Wednesday, seven people die after drone hit passenger bus for Russia-controlled Donetsk region of Ukraine, according to Moscow-installed official. Moscow continue to strike Ukrainian cities, wey dey result for regular civilian casualties. On Monday night alone, at least 22 people die for combined missile and drone strikes across Ukraine.
