Ukraine’s recent drone strikes on St. Petersburg provided arguably the most visible indication to date that Vladimir Putin’s invasion is not going according to plan. They also served to underline the fact that the war is now no longer confined to Ukraine and is increasingly being fought inside Russia itself.
The drone attacks on Russia’s second city took place in early June as it hosted the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. This flagship event has traditionally been used by the Kremlin to project power and status on the global stage. On this occasion, however, delegates making their way to the official opening were confronted by unmistakable evidence of Russia’s vulnerability, with the skyline shrouded in black smoke rising from the site of a recent Ukrainian bombing raid on a nearby oil terminal.
Ukraine’s spectacular strikes sparked a lively debate in Russia over the state of the country’s air defenses. There was widespread alarm at Putin’s apparent inability to prevent enemy drones from reaching his home city as he welcomed foreign guests attending Russia’s biggest international event of the year. Many noted that if such an important occasion could be targeted, nowhere in Russia that lies within range of Ukraine’s drones could now be considered safe.
