Ukraine launched one of its most ambitious long-range drone assaults of the war, targeting military sites around St Petersburg and forcing Russian authorities to issue unprecedented warnings as Vladimir Putin hosted a flagship economic forum designed to showcase Russia's resilience. Russian officials said more than 140 drones were intercepted over the surrounding Leningrad region, describing the attack as unlike anything the area had faced since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Kyiv Pushes the War to Putin's Doorstep The strikes hit at the heart of Russia's second city during the final day of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, a key event aimed at attracting foreign investment despite years of Western sanctions. Leningrad governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said a military facility caught fire and residents were evacuated, while St Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov urged people to remain indoors for the first time since the war began. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation targeted naval arsenals and a military base in Kronstadt, home to Russia's Baltic Fleet. Economic Showcase Overshadowed by Security Fears The timing could hardly have been more damaging for the Kremlin. Thousands of delegates from more than 130 countries were attending the forum, including a rare US delegation, when air defence systems were forced into action around the city. The attack underlined Kyiv's growing ability to strike deep inside Russian territory, challenging Moscow's claims that critical infrastructure and strategic assets remain secure. Putin Rejects Talks as Pressure Mounts The escalation came just one day after Putin dismissed Zelensky's call for direct negotiations. Speaking at the forum, the Russian leader argued that any ceasefire would simply allow Ukraine to regroup and repeated that Russia would only end the war on its own terms. Ukraine continues to reject demands to surrender territory or abandon its Nato ambitions, warning that concessions would encourage future aggression. Drone War Expands Across the Front Zelensky said Ukrainian forces also struck an oil depot in Russia's Krasnodar region as part of a campaign targeting infrastructure that supports Moscow's war effort. Meanwhile, Russian-installed authorities in occupied Luhansk suspended transport services and imposed new security restrictions after a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on logistics routes. With Kyiv increasingly capable of reaching targets hundreds of miles from the battlefield, the conflict is becoming harder for Russia to contain — and more difficult for the Kremlin to keep distant from ordinary life. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7498kz808o
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