Several people have been wounded in Ukrainian drone attacks on St. Petersburg on the opening day of Russia’s largest investment forum, local governor Aleksandr Beglov said Wednesday.
UAVs targeted infrastructure in the Kirovsky and Krasnoselsky districts as well as the port of Kronstadt, which is part of St. Petersburg, according to Beglov’s Telegram post. Response teams have been deployed to facilities damaged by the attacks.
The 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2026), often referred to as the “Russian Davos,” runs from June 3 to 6 and is expected to draw approximately 20,000 businesspeople, politicians, and public figures from more than 100 nations. Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to address the gathering on Friday.
In Leningrad Region, which surrounds St. Petersburg, local governor Aleksandr Drozdenko reported that at least 59 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight. Several private homes suffered minor damage due to falling debris, but no injuries were reported.
The Defense Ministry stated a total of 345 Ukrainian UAVs were intercepted across Russia during the attack. The interceptions occurred over Moscow, Leningrad, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Novgorod, Orel, Pskov, Rostov, Smolensk, Tver, Tula, and Krasnodar regions as well as Crimea and the Sea of Azov.
In Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic, seven civilians were killed and 11 others wounded when a Ukrainian drone struck a passenger bus traveling from Crimea to Moscow.
Ukrainian drones have targeted Leningrad Region’s energy facilities on numerous occasions in recent months. The explosive-laden drones often reach northwestern Russia via Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland, with some crashing inside NATO countries.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu previously warned that if the Baltic States and Finland “deliberately provide their airspace” to Ukrainian UAVs, Moscow has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
