On the morning of July 4, 2026, large fires broke out over the Gulf of Finland after Ukrainian drones attacked the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal. This terminal is located over 850 kilometers from Ukraine, showing how the conflict has reached deep into Russia. The terminal is very important for Russia's energy supply, processing millions of tons of oil products each year. The attack also affected the Vysotsk port, which handles various goods like oil and gas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the attack, calling it a necessary economic action to hurt Russia's ability to fund the war. He also said Ukrainian forces might have hit Kronstadt, a naval base near St. Petersburg, but Russia has not confirmed this. In St. Petersburg, Governor Alexander Beglov stated there were no casualties and emergency services handled the situation. However, Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported that air defenses intercepted many drones over the Leningrad region.
Ukraine's attacks on Russian energy facilities seem to be causing significant damage. Ukrainian officials believe their strikes have disabled almost half of Russia's oil refining capacity. In the past month, they reported hitting eight refineries and damaging many storage tanks. This has led to fuel shortages in several Russian regions, with long lines at gas stations. To address this, President Putin signed new tax laws to encourage fuel production.
The attack on July 4 followed a deadly Russian bombing of Kyiv just days before. The St. Petersburg strike also happened a month after a similar drone attack targeted the city during an economic forum. Advanced drone technology has allowed Ukraine to bypass defenses, bringing the conflict closer to major Russian cities.