Ukraine strikes St Petersburg oil terminal and data centre

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 09:19 · Archive

Ukraine launched a major drone attack on St Petersburg, hitting an oil terminal and data centre despite US sanctions relief.

Ukraine launched a significant drone attack on St Petersburg, hitting multiple targets including the St Petersburg Oil Terminal, which has a capacity of 12.5 million tons per year. A data centre operated by internet company VK was also struck, with reports of disruption to cloud services. Governor Alexander Beglov reported one person killed and five injured, with fires spreading to industrial warehouses in the city. Russian state media also reported disruptions to departures at Pulkovo airport.

Russia's Defence Ministry said air defence units shot down 1,015 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight. Debris from intercepted drones caused fires in high-rise apartment buildings. The Daily Mail reports that e-commerce company Ozon's logistics hub in St Petersburg was also damaged.

The attack follows Donald Trump's decision this week to waive sanctions against Russia and sign an executive order blocking what he called 'hellish sanctions' imposed by Congress. The Mirror reports the strike appeared designed to anger Trump, whose relationship with President Zelensky is already strained. The Daily Mail notes Trump has been seeking to increase supplies of Russian diesel to the global market ahead of US midterm elections on November 3.

How it is being reported

• Russian oil terminal and data centre in St Petersburg ablaze as Kyiv launches massive drone attack after Trump's decision to waive sanctions and 'slow down' satellitesOne person was killed and five injured in the strike with fires spreading to industrial warehouses in the city, governor Alexander Beglov said on Sunday.Daily Mail · 18 Oct, 09:03
• St Petersburg on fire as Zelensky defies Trump again with massive strike hitting oil depotRussian air defences were overwhelmed as drones carried out a strike on the oil terminal, which has a capacity of 12.5 million tons, in Vladimir Putin’s home city St PetersburgThe Mirror · 18 Oct, 07:58

In this story: Ukraine · St Petersburg · Vladimir Putin · Volodymyr Zelensky · Donald Trump · Russia · VK · Alexander Beglov

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem