Alexander Beglov, governor of Saint Petersburg, indicated that “several” facilities were damaged and that there were no fatalities to be reported.
According to AFP, the attacks forced Saint Petersburg’s main airport to close operations for hours.
“The St. Petersburg forum is starting with a beautiful column of black smoke in the background after the Ukrainian attacks,” said Sergiy Sternenko, advisor to the Ukrainian defense ministercited by the news agency.
AFP journalists witnessed visible smoke from the venue where the International Economic Forum will be held, as participants gathered for the first sessions. An event where interventions by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, are planned.
These Ukrainian drone attacks came one day after a large-scale Russian offensive against several Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kiev. At least 23 deaths and more than 100 injuries have been recorded, according to the most recent report.
