There’s a certain irony in hosting a forum designed to project economic stability while black smoke billows across the city skyline. That’s exactly what happened in St Petersburg during SPIEF 2026, as Ukrainian long-range drones struck critical energy and military infrastructure in two waves of attacks spanning the forum’s duration.
The first strike hit the Petersburg Oil Terminal on June 3, the opening day of the event. A second wave targeted military sites around the city on June 6-7, during the forum’s final days. The result was a prominent plume of dark smoke visible to approximately 20,000 attendees from over 130 countries.
What happened on the ground
The June 3 attack zeroed in on the Petersburg Oil Terminal. Russian authorities confirmed fires broke out in the Kirovsky, Krasnoselsky, and Kronstadt districts that day.
The second wave, days later, escalated things further. Targets included the Kronstadt naval base, where the naval corvette Boykiy was stationed. Satellite imagery confirmed damage to the vessel.
