A series of daring Ukrainian drone strikes on a fuel terminal in the Leningrad region and a Russian corvette in Kronstadt has triggered widespread alarm among residents of St. Petersburg. The attacks, which occurred just as the city prepared to host the International Economic Forum, have forced Russians to confront the reality that their major urban centers are no longer immune to the ongoing conflict.

Fear on the Streets

The attacks left civilians terrified as drones bypassed Russian air defenses. Social media footage captured the harrowing moment a drone struck a fuel terminal, with one user identified by the Kyiv Independent remarking, “Now I am even more afraid”. Videos circulating online show residents attempting to fire upon the drones with small arms and rifles, highlighting the panic and helplessness felt by those on the ground.

The environmental impact was immediate, with Russian military blogger Romanov Light reporting a significant deterioration in air quality due to the intense fire at the terminal. Reports indicate that one tank was destroyed, while six others and two technical platforms sustained damage.

Elites Confronted by the Reality of War

The timing of the strikes—aimed at the city hosting an international economic summit attended by Russia’s business elite—served as a stark reminder of the war’s reach. Russian military bloggers were highly critical of the Kremlin’s handling of the situation. “This burning oil terminal should serve as a reminder to the elites who came to the economic forum that a war is still going on,” noted blogger Romanov Light, while also criticizing the Russian Ministry of Defense’s perceived lack of initiative.

Another blogger, known as “Reporter Filatov,” questioned the efficacy of the defense ministry, suggesting that the Russian business elite is now witnessing firsthand how the ministry is failing to uphold its end of the so-called “social contract” to protect the nation.

Kremlin’s Response

Despite the breach in security, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov maintained that Russia’s “special military operation” remains necessary specifically to prevent such attacks, despite the fact that the invasion began in 2022, long before Russia faced similar strikes on its own soil.

Peskov promised a “systemic” response to the provocation before Vladimir Putin’s scheduled appearance at the forum. “I would like to remind you of the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which states that our responses will be systemic. In fact, they are already systemic,” Peskov told the TASS news agency when questioned on how Moscow plans to counter these Ukrainian incursions.