Ukraine launches 1,000-km drone attack on St. Petersburg

Russia intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian drones during a major attack on St. Petersburg on Saturday, the closing day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), as Ukraine reported at least three people killed by separate Russian strikes overnight. Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said at least 86 drones were downed over the Leningrad region, where St. Petersburg is located, while Russia's defense ministry reported intercepting a total of 376 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions including Belgorod, Kursk, Crimea and the Black Sea. Pulkovo Airport suspended operations with dozens of flights delayed and diverted. President Volodymyr Zelensky posted that Ukrainian drones traveled approximately 1,000 kilometers to target Russian military installations in the St. Petersburg area and Kronstadt, home to the Russian navy's arsenals. The attack occurred two days after Zelensky published an open letter suggesting Ukrainians would support having drones "pay a visit" to the forum, while also inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet face-to-face to discuss ending the conflict. Putin rejected the proposal during SPIEF, saying there was no sense in meeting at present and describing Zelensky's tone as inappropriate and insolent. The Kremlin maintained that Russia remains open to negotiations but only after addressing what it describes as the root causes of the conflict, while questioning Zelensky's legitimacy following the expiry of his presidential term in May 2024 without new elections. Separately, Putin held a private meeting with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, whom he has proposed as a potential mediator for future European security talks on Ukraine. The Kremlin described the encounter as "good and friendly," though European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas ruled out Schröder's mediating role, noting his positions with Russian state companies meant he would effectively be "sitting on both sides of the table." Zelensky is expected to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Sunday to discuss military support and diplomatic strategy.