Drone Strike Targets Russian Oil Infrastructure, Escalating Cross-Border Conflict

Ukraine has intensified its long-range campaign against Russia by targeting an oil terminal in St Petersburg, marking another significant strike on Moscow's energy infrastructure as the war enters its fifth year.

According to Russian authorities, the attack hit the Kirovsky district of St Petersburg, while air defence systems intercepted 72 Ukrainian drones over the city and surrounding region. Officials are assessing the extent of the damage caused to the oil facility.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the operation as part of Kyiv's strategy of imposing " long-range sanctions " on Russia. He said Ukrainian forces had also struck a military target on Kronstadt Island , calling both locations strategically important because they support Russia's military operations.

Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil depots, refineries and fuel infrastructure in recent months, aiming to disrupt supplies that sustain Moscow's war effort. The repeated attacks have reportedly contributed to fuel shortages in several regions and added pressure on Russian authorities.

Meanwhile, fighting continued on the battlefield, with Russian President Vladimir Putin claiming his forces had captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka , describing it as a key step towards advancing deeper into the Donetsk region . Senior Russian military officials said troops were clearing the remaining pockets of resistance.

However, Zelenskyy rejected the claim, insisting the city had not fallen and accusing Moscow of spreading misinformation. He also challenged Putin to pursue diplomacy, while the Kremlin responded that meaningful talks could only take place if Kyiv was prepared to make what it called "important decisions."

Elsewhere, Russian-installed authorities in Crimea reported that a Ukrainian strike killed one person and injured two others, including a child. In Russia's Belgorod region, overnight drone attacks reportedly disrupted electricity supplies, while Ukrainian officials said eight civilians , including two children, were injured after Russian strikes hit residential areas in Zaporizhzhia .

The latest exchanges underscore the widening scope of the conflict, with attacks increasingly reaching deep into both countries beyond the traditional frontline.