Ukraine launches massive drone strike on St Petersburg as Kremlin brands attack ‘unprecedented’

More than 140 drones were shot down.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said his forces had targeted a naval base and Russian arsenals with drones, travelling 620 miles to the region.

Regional governor Aleksandr Drozdenko claimed more than 140 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region.

Vladimir Putin had earlier told the forum there was no point in meeting Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had proposed resuming peace talks.

Residents of St.Petersburg were told not to leave their homes after the drone attack, highlighting Kyiv's growing ability to hit deep inside Russia.

St. Petersburg Gov. Alexander Beglov advised the residents not to go outside and also warned of possible disruptions to mobile internet service.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defences shot down 376 Ukrainian drones.

"Last night, our drones covered a distance of about 1,000 kilometres to the St. Petersburg region - to the enemy navy's arsenals and a base in Kronstadt," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote of the attack on X.

Although no casualties have been reported, the latest strike on St Petersburg marks another embarrassing setback for Vladimir Putin’s efforts to portray the war as a distant conflict with little impact on everyday Russian life.