Ukraine Strikes 1,000 Kilometers Into Russia With 376-Drone Barrage as Putin Forum Nears End
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jun 6
Ukraine Strikes 1,000 Kilometers Into Russia With 376-Drone Barrage as Putin Forum Nears End
3 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jun 6
Summary
Ukrainian drones hit targets across multiple Russian regions overnight, reaching as far as Kronstadt near St. Petersburg and an oil depot in Krasnodar Krai, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russia's Defense Ministry said it downed 376 drones, including more than 140 over Leningrad Oblast, while the regional governor reported a fire at a Defense Ministry facility and evacuations in Lomonosovsky district.
Kronstadt access was briefly shut after residents reported smoke near the Kronstadt Marine Plant, and local authorities in Ust-Labinsk said a drone strike on an oil depot forced 60 nearby residents to evacuate.
The strikes came ahead of the final day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and days after a June 3 attack on the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal, underscoring Ukraine's expanding deep-strike campaign against Russian military and energy infrastructure.
Zelensky cast the operation as a response to Russia's continued war and Putin's rejection of renewed peace talks, saying facilities supporting the aggression would face "a just response."
With drones striking deep into Russia, has its vast territory become more of a liability than an asset?
As drone strikes hobble Russia's oil industry, is the Kremlin's economic lifeline for the war starting to fray?
How Ukraine’s 2025–2026 Drone Offensive Hit Over 80 Russian Oil Facilities and Exposed Critical Vulnerabilities
Overview
In late May and early June 2026, Ukrainian forces ramped up long-range drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, causing significant disruptions and visible damage. A major strike on June 3 targeted St. Petersburg, leading to temporary flight restrictions and over 30 flight delays or cancellations at Pulkovo airport. Ukrainian officials released footage of drones over the city, and a plume of black smoke was seen as the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal—one of Russia’s largest—was hit. These actions highlight Ukraine’s ongoing strategy to degrade Russia’s capacity to export and process oil through persistent, deep strikes.