Ukrainian long-range drones struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg and set it ablaze, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday, as the Russian city hosts an annual international economic forum that is a banner event for President Vladimir Putin. The drones flew more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) to hit the terminal, Zelenskyy said on social media. Clouds of black smoke rose over the city’s port after the attack. St. Petersburg is Russia’s second-largest city and is where Putin was born.Russian authorities said only that the Ukrainian drone strike targeted the city’s infrastructure, without providing further details. The airport of St. Petersburg briefly suspended flights overnight because of the attack. Authorities also cut off mobile internet services.With the front line changing little as swarms of drones hinder battlefield movement, both sides have sought an edge by increasingly launching long-range strikes. The war that followed Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor is more than four years old, with no end in sight.Ukraine’s drone successes embarrass PutinThe latest strikes are an embarrassment for Putin, weeks after he pruned back an annual Victory Day parade in Moscow because of fears of Ukrainian drone attacks.Putin is set to speak on Friday at the economic forum in St. Petersburg that the Kremlin views as a prestige event. For decades, the gathering has been Russia’s leading event for attracting foreign capital. It is sometimes called Russia’s Davos, likening it to the World Economic Forum held in Switzerland.Related Stories Major Western investors and officials have stayed away since Russia launched its all-out war against Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Saudi Arabia is a special guest country this year and is due to send a large business delegation.The strikes came a day after Russian forces launched a major drone and missile attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing 23 civilians and wounding 151 other people, as Moscow followed through with its threat of escalating its regular barrages.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Russia’s deep strikes have already taken on a “systematic” character.Ukraine needs more air defense helpUkraine is short of American-made Patriot air defense missiles, in part because of U.S. stocks depleted by the Iran war, leaving it vulnerable to Russia’s ballistic missiles.Zelenskyy on Wednesday expressed frustration with his own government’s officials, saying there’s an agreement “at the highest political level” for the purchase of Patriot systems, but implementation is being held up by financial, legal and technical considerations.“The wait has taken too long,” he said on social media, demanding that officials unblock the purchase or there will be “serious personnel decisions.”NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday for talks with Ukrainian officials that likely will cover air defense needs.Ukraine? for high school students (grades 9–12) in a clear, engaging, and age-appropriate way. Use straightforward but respectful language and keep the summary under 150 words. Focus on key facts and why the story matters. Then, on a new line and as a separate paragraph, include one insightful, open-ended question labeled as “ QUESTION:” The question should: • Be directly related to the article • Be varied in tone and structure (not repetitive) • Encourage reflection, curiosity, or connection to students’ lives Examples of question types to rotate through: • What could happen if…? • How would you feel if…? • Why do you think…? • What should people do about…? • How might this affect your generation? Format: [Summary paragraph] QUESTION: [Your insightful, open-ended question here]
Ukrainian drones set fire to a St. Petersburg oil terminal ahead of Putin visit
