Ukraine Drones Hit St. Petersburg, Disrupting Airport After Putin Rejects Kyiv Talks
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 6
Ukraine Drones Hit St. Petersburg, Disrupting Airport After Putin Rejects Kyiv Talks
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 6
Summary
St. Petersburg came under a Ukrainian drone barrage on Saturday, hours after Vladimir Putin refused a proposal for talks with Kyiv at Russia’s flagship investment forum.
The attack set a Russian Defense Ministry facility on fire and disrupted operations for several hours at Pulkovo, Russia’s second-largest commercial airport.
Russian officials had earlier said air defenses detected or shot down 376 Ukrainian drones, while city authorities urged residents to stay indoors and briefly halted some transport.
The strike extended Ukraine’s campaign to hit military and energy-linked targets deep inside Russia, underscoring how the war is increasingly intruding on high-profile civilian and business events.
After Putin rejected peace talks, was the massive St. Petersburg drone attack Ukraine's true diplomatic response?
With Russia's economy on display, can Ukraine's drone war against oil infrastructure ultimately cripple Putin's war machine?
June 6, 2026: Ukraine’s Drone Assault on St. Petersburg Signals New Phase in Russia Conflict
Overview
On June 6, 2026, Ukraine launched a major drone attack on St. Petersburg and nearby regions, marking a sharp escalation in its long-range strike campaign. This operation is part of Ukraine’s expanding strategy to inflict economic damage on Russia and expose its vulnerability, especially by targeting key sites just before important events for President Putin. The attack followed a previous strike that set fire to an oil terminal and hit a naval base in St. Petersburg, both timed to disrupt the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. These actions highlight Ukraine’s growing drone capabilities and its intent to pressure Russia both economically and psychologically.