On the night of June 3, a powerful strike hit an oil terminal in St. Petersburg. A massive fire broke out at the scene, engulfing oil storage tanks. Columns of black smoke were visible from many kilometers away, while the fire illuminated the sky over the area where industrial facilities are located.
Operation details and responsible units
The Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Unmanned Systems Forces, known by the callsign "Madjar," confirmed the attack on his social media. He published a photo of the drone that, according to him, was used during the operation. In his post, he wrote: "We entered without knocking, under the cover of the white nights. Close the window...".
According to the provided information, the strike was the result of a joint operation by four entities: the Unmanned Systems Forces, the Special Operations Forces, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR).
Strategic context and strike statistics
The "St. Petersburg" oil terminal has become the 20th facility of its kind struck by Ukrainian forces in the last 33 days — from May 1 to June 3. This indicates a systematic nature of attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure.
The timing of the strike also holds strategic significance. The attack occurred less than 24 hours before the opening of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), where Russian President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to speak. The terminal is located approximately 17 km from the forum venue.
Consequences for infrastructure and transport
The incident caused serious disruptions to the city's transport system. Dozens of flights were delayed at Pulkovo Airport, causing inconvenience for passengers and disrupting the flight schedule.
JSC "St. Petersburg Oil Terminal" is the largest oil refining complex in northwestern Russia. Its throughput capacity is 12.5 million tons per year, making this facility critically important for the region's logistics and economy.
Reaction from Ukrainian leadership
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed strikes not only on St. Petersburg but also on facilities in Kronstadt and Tambov. In his statement, he emphasized that all three targets were chosen deliberately: they are linked to the financing or material-technical support of the Russian war machine.