Ukrainian drones hit Saint Petersburg oil terminal and data center
Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal, an electrical substation, and a key data center in Saint Petersburg overnight, sparking fires and disrupting major Russian digital services, regional officials and media reported.
Baltic export terminal set ablaze
Multiple unmanned aircraft repeatedly hit a storage tank farm at the Saint Petersburg oil terminal, igniting a massive blaze across the port area. The strategic complex, which spans roughly 37 hectares and maintains a storage capacity of 441,000 cubic meters across more than 30 tanks, serves as a vital conduit for handling up to 12.5 million tonnes of exported petroleum products annually through the Baltic Sea.
The long-range barrage also targeted the 330 kV Vostochnaya electrical substation, triggering widespread power outages across several districts of Saint Petersburg and neighboring communities. Local authorities also noted structural damage to a municipal bridge following the strikes.
Digital infrastructure and aviation disrupted
Internet users across Russia documented significant service disruptions on VKontakte, one of the country's most prominent social media platforms, after drones hit the ICVA data center hosting its core network infrastructure. Network connectivity monitors indicated that digital traffic dropped to approximately 56% of baseline levels during the assault, though technical teams have not confirmed the full extent of structural hardware damage.
Flight operations at Pulkovo Airport were temporarily suspended, forcing passengers into protective shelters as air defenses engaged inbound threats. Ukrainian drone manufacturer Fire Point confirmed that long-range FP-1 unmanned aerial vehicles were deployed in the coordinated operation.
Russian authorities confirm air defense engagement
Leningrad Region Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko stated that Russian air defense units intercepted 57 Ukrainian drones across the territory, adding that falling debris damaged four civilian vehicles in a parking facility.
In Saint Petersburg, Governor Aleksandr Beglov reported that specialized emergency crews deployed immediately to contain and extinguish the industrial fires.
“Emergency response teams were mobilized to eliminate the consequences, and no casualties have been reported,” said Beglov, warning that local mobile internet connectivity could experience temporary disruptions.
The deep-strike operation aligns with Kyiv’s broader strategy to degrade the logistical and financial architecture funding Moscow's military campaign. Ukrainian forces previously targeted the Saint Petersburg oil terminal in July 2026, while recent strikes on October 11 and October 14 struck data centers operated by Yandex in Vladimir and Sberbank in the Saratov region.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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