St Petersburg region port, oil terminal hit in major Ukrainian drone attack, authorities say
Details of the Drone Attack and Its Impact
Overview of the Incident
MOSCOW, July 4 (Reuters) - Authorities in Russia's second city of St Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region said on Saturday that a local port and oil infrastructure were struck in a major Ukrainian drone attack overnight.
St Petersburg: Scale and Response
Governor's Statement
St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said the city of 6 million had come under a "large-scale" drone attack, with the city's oil terminal struck. He said there were no casualties and that the aftermath of the attack had been dealt with.
Leningrad Region: Port of Vysotsk Targeted
Details of the Port Attack
Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko said drones had struck the port of Vysotsk, about 170 km (105 miles) northwest of St Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland. The port handles oil, grain, coal and liquefied natural gas.
Drone Defense Measures
Drozdenko said 72 drones had been shot down over the Leningrad region.
Context: Escalation of Ukrainian Strikes
Impact on Russian Energy Infrastructure
Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian energy infrastructure this year, causing fuel shortages in parts of Russia.
Previous Attacks on St Petersburg
St Petersburg, about 900 km (560 miles) from Ukrainian-held territory, has occasionally come under attack from Kyiv's drones. Targets have included the city's oil terminal and a moored warship during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum in June.
Other Regional Attacks
Pskov Region Incident
Drone Downings and Damage
South of St Petersburg, the governor of Pskov region said more than 30 drones had been shot down overnight. He reported minor damage and injuries, including to a factory in the town of Velikiye Luki.
(Reporting by Reuters. Writing by Felix Light. Editing by Mark Potter)
