ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA July 4, 2026 – Ukrainian long-range attack drones struck Russia’s St. Petersburg Oil Terminal early Friday morning, triggering a fire and sending thick black smoke billowing over the port area, according to multiple reports and footage circulating on social media.
The attack occurred in the early hours of July 4, with explosions reported around 6:30 a.m. local time in Russia’s Leningrad Oblast. Videos and photos posted online show heavy smoke rising from the facility, located at the Great Port of St. Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland. The terminal is one of Russia’s largest petroleum storage and export hubs, with an annual throughput capacity of approximately 12.5 million tons.
Russian authorities stated that dozens of Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight in the Leningrad region. One report cited 67 drones intercepted. No casualties have been reported so far, and the full extent of damage to the oil terminal remains unclear.
Ukraine’s military has not issued an official statement confirming the strike as of this report. However, the operation fits a pattern of Ukrainian deep-strike drone attacks targeting Russian energy infrastructure to disrupt oil exports and war funding.
St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hometown and located roughly 1,100 kilometers (about 684 miles) from the Ukrainian border, has seen increased drone activity in recent months as Ukraine improves its long-range capabilities.
This latest incident comes just over a month after a similar Ukrainian drone attack on the same oil terminal on June 3, 2026, which coincided with the opening of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. It also follows days of intensified Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, including a major attack on Kyiv on July 1 that killed nearly 30 people and injured over 90.
In retaliation, Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian oil refineries, storage facilities, and related infrastructure. These attacks have contributed to fuel shortages in at least 20 Russian regions in recent weeks.
Russian Telegram channels and independent media were among the first to report the incident, sharing videos of smoke and local accounts of drones overhead. Western outlets are monitoring the situation as more details emerge.
The strike highlights Ukraine’s growing ability to reach deep into Russian territory despite heavy air defenses around strategically important cities like St. Petersburg.
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