Ukraine's largest drone attack on Saint Petersburg sets oil refinery ablaze

One killed and flights restricted as Kyiv accuses Russia of breaking collapsed 'energy ceasefire' dozens of times

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

Updated21 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources2 outlets

Ukraine hit Saint Petersburg with a large-scale drone attack overnight, setting fire to an oil refinery and depot in what state media said was the largest strike on the Russian city since the start of the 2022 war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes were fair retribution for Russian attacks that have left tens of thousands of Ukrainian families without power.

Moscow said Ukraine attacked Russia's second city with a large drone assault, causing fires at the Saint Petersburg oil terminal, the Ruchyi oil depot and industrial warehouses. Saint Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said one person was killed and five were hospitalised, 12 housing blocks were damaged and flights were restricted at Pulkovo airport. Smoke rose above the city's shipyards and was visible from the historic centre on the banks of the Neva River.

Russia's VKontakte social network said a data centre was hit, and Ozon, Russia's second-largest retailer, reported a strike on its logistics centre. Leningrad region head Alexander Drozdenko said air defences shot down 144 drones, and that 20,000 people were without power in the town of Yanino after a substation was hit. He said a woman and three children were hospitalised with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning after drone debris fell on a house and started a fire.

The attack came as ties between Kyiv and Washington have strained. Last week US President Donald Trump announced an "energy ceasefire" that neither side said it agreed to beforehand, and that quickly collapsed, with Moscow continuing strikes on Ukraine's power grid and Kyiv resuming hits on Russian oil refineries. Mr Trump has been angered by Kyiv's strikes on refineries, which he says are contributing to a surge in global fuel prices.

Speaking today, Mr Zelensky accused Russia of hitting Ukraine's energy, oil and gas facilities 76 times since the ceasefire was announced. He said Russian strikes hit substations in four regions, leaving "tens of thousands of families without power", and killed two people at an agricultural enterprise in the western Volyn region, which borders NATO member Poland. "America should see that Russia is not taking any reciprocal steps in response to sanctions relief or agreements," he said. "It is Russia that must face pressure for peace to have a chance."

This week Mr Trump blocked a package of new sanctions on Russia that was meant to target Mr Putin, as well as Russia's energy and defence sectors, and signed an agreement to buy diesel from Moscow, seen as an attempt to lower US fuel prices ahead of elections. Earlier this week Mr Putin appeared in military uniform and said Moscow intended to seize the rest of eastern Ukraine by force. US-led peace talks have not led to a breakthrough, and in a fifth year of war few see a way out.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The strike hits Russia's second city, President Vladimir Putin's hometown, at a moment when US-led peace efforts have stalled and the war has entered a fifth year.
It exposes a widening rift between Kyiv and Washington, with Mr Trump blocking new sanctions on Russia and agreeing to buy Russian diesel while blaming Ukrainian refinery strikes for higher fuel prices.
Ukraine's own energy grid is under pressure as winter approaches, with Mr Zelensky warning Russia is trying to leave Ukrainians without heat and power.

Background

The war, now in its fifth year, has seen Ukraine attack Moscow and Saint Petersburg throughout Russia's offensive, though large-scale hits on Russia's main cities have been rare. Mr Trump's "energy ceasefire", announced last week, was not agreed to by either side beforehand and quickly collapsed. Moscow kept striking Ukraine's power grid, and Kyiv resumed attacks on Russian refineries. This week Mr Trump blocked a package of new sanctions targeting Mr Putin and Russia's energy and defence sectors, and signed a diesel purchase agreement with Moscow, deepening European concerns that the White House is taking Russia's side.

Key Perspectives

Russian authorities: Governor Alexander Beglov reported one killed, five hospitalised and fires at oil facilities, with flights restricted and housing blocks damaged. Leningrad region head Alexander Drozdenko said 144 drones were shot down and 20,000 people lost power in Yanino. State media called it the largest attack on the city since 2022. Ukrainian leadership: Mr Zelensky said Russia had hit Ukraine's energy, oil and gas facilities 76 times since the ceasefire was announced, leaving tens of thousands of families without power and killing two people in Volyn. He framed Ukraine's strikes as fair retribution for years of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and called on allies to keep pressure on Moscow. The White House: As reported, Mr Trump has been angered by Kyiv's strikes on Russian refineries, saying they push up global fuel prices. He blocked new sanctions and signed a deal to buy Russian diesel, moves Kyiv and its European allies worry signal Washington is siding with Moscow. Mr Zelensky said Russia treats signals of opportunity as proof that its bet on war is paying off.

What to Watch

Whether Kyiv continues hitting Russian refineries in response to continued strikes on its grid, and how Washington responds to further attacks near its strained relationship with Ukraine.
Whether the US diesel purchase and the blocked sanctions package change the international pressure campaign on Moscow.
The approach of winter: Mr Zelensky has warned Russia is trying to leave Ukrainians without heat and power, suggesting energy infrastructure on both sides remains a central target.

Sources

Ukraine sets Saint Petersburg refinery ablaze in attack · RTÉ News
Kremlin says Ukrainian attacks won’t change war as Kyiv hits Saint Petersburg · Rapporteur

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe headline calls this Ukraine’s largest drone attack on Saint Petersburg.RTÉ News: “with state media saying this was the largest attack on the city since the start of the 2022 war.”
Partly supportedZelensky said the strikes were fair retribution for Russian attacks that left tens of thousands of Ukrainian families without power.RTÉ News: “Kyiv says its retaliatory strikes are fair retribution for years of Russia's offensive and destruction of its energy infrastructure.”
SupportedThe source says Ukraine hit Saint Petersburg with a large-scale drone attack, causing fires at an oil refinery and depot.RTÉ News: “Ukraine hit Saint Petersburg with a large-scale drone attack, causing fires at an oil refinery and depot, Moscow said today.”
SupportedThe summary says one person was killed.RTÉ News: “Saint Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov said one person was killed and five hospitalised in the city”
SupportedThe summary says flights were restricted at Pulkovo airport.RTÉ News: “Flights were restricted at the city's Pulkovo airport, Mr Beglov said”
SupportedKyiv accused Russia of violating the collapsed energy ceasefire dozens of times.RTÉ News: “It comes as Kyiv accused Russia of violating US President Donald Trump's "energy ceasefire" dozens of times”
SupportedZelensky said, “America should see that Russia is not taking any reciprocal steps in response to sanctions relief or agreements.”RTÉ News: “"America should see that Russia is not taking any reciprocal steps in response to sanctions relief or agreements.”
SupportedZelensky said, “It is Russia that must face pressure for peace to have a chance.”RTÉ News: “"It is Russia that must face pressure for peace to have a chance," Mr Zelensky said.”
SupportedBeglov said 12 housing blocks were damaged.RTÉ News: “Mr Beglov said, adding that 12 housing blocks were also damaged.”
SupportedDrozdenko said air defences shot down 144 Ukrainian drones.RTÉ News: “Alexander Drozdenko, said air defences shot down 144 Ukrainian drones”
SupportedDrozdenko said 20,000 people were without power in Yanino, where a substation was hit.RTÉ News: “Mr Drozdenko said 20,000 people were without power in the town of Yanino, where a substation was hit.”
Partly supportedTrump signed the diesel-buying agreement this week.RTÉ News: “The US leader also signed an agreement with Moscow this month to buy diesel”