Ukraine launched a swarm of long‑range drones at a military base near St. Petersburg early Saturday, just hours after President Vladimir Putin addressed the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Regional governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said more than 140 drones were intercepted, though debris ignited a fire at an unnamed facility and forced a limited evacuation.

Zelensky highlighted the drones' range—about 1,000 kilometers—that allowed them to strike the Kronstadt naval base and a nearby arsenal. Three locals suffered minor injuries, and a separate incident in Tver killed one person. The attack marks the second drone raid on the city within four days, underscoring Kyiv's capacity to hit targets deep inside Russian territory.

The strikes coincided with Putin’s outright rejection of Zelensky’s peace overture at the forum, a move that dampened any hopes of immediate diplomatic progress. Investors at the event noted the heightened security risk, while the United States sent a low‑level cultural delegation for the first time in years, signaling limited yet symbolic engagement.