Ukrainian Drones Devastate St. Petersburg: Oil Terminal, Bridge, and Data Centers Hit in Massive Attack

In a bold overnight move, Ukrainian forces launched a massive drone attack on St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, targeting critical infrastructure including an oil terminal, a data center, and a bridge. According to Russian state media, the strikes hit the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal and a facility belonging to VKontakte, a major social media company. Leningrad Oblast Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko reported that 127 Ukrainian drones were intercepted, though debris from the downed drones damaged several vehicles and sparked fires in the area.

The Kyiv Independent notes that the full extent of the damage is still unclear and cannot be independently verified at this time. Ukrainian monitoring channels Exilenova+ and Supernova+ indicate that the attack began around 2:50 a.m. local time, with eyewitness footage capturing drones streaking across the sky and air defense systems in action. Videos from the scene show explosions illuminating the night and a drone striking an eight-lane bridge, while others depict the oil terminal engulfed in flames—a facility that handles millions of tons of fuel annually.

Ukrainian drone manufacturer Fire Point claimed responsibility, stating that an FP-1 attack drone was used in the assault. This escalation follows the collapse of a U.S.-imposed energy ceasefire, adding tension to the ongoing conflict. Additional reports from the opposition outlet Astra suggest that a power substation was also hit, leading to blackouts and low water pressure in the region, along with damage to an apartment building.

The attack on the VKontakte data center is part of a broader pattern of Ukrainian strikes on Russian internet infrastructure, including recent hits on Yandex data centers. This aligns with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s pledge to ‘respond in kind’ to Russian cyberattacks. Ukraine has repeatedly targeted St. Petersburg, notably damaging the same oil terminal in July, and continues to strike deep into Russian territory as Moscow intensifies its own attacks on Ukrainian energy and civilian sites. Recent swarming drone assaults have disrupted air traffic around Moscow and compromised key data hubs, showcasing Ukraine’s growing reach.