Ukrainian drones launched significant strikes on energy and military sites in St Petersburg early Wednesday, just hours before the city's flagship economic forum commenced. The attacks targeted oil storage facilities, resulting in loud explosions and visible smoke over the city. St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov confirmed that the Kirovsky and Krasnoselsky districts were affected, while the Kronstadt naval base also sustained damage. This incident is particularly embarrassing for the Kremlin, occurring near the forum where President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to speak. Approximately 20,000 attendees from 130 countries, including former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and American influencer Candace Owens, were present despite disruptions caused by the drone strikes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed the strikes as part of Ukraine's long-range sanctions strategy, emphasizing their precision and impact on Russian military capabilities. The forum, which has seen reduced Western participation since the 2022 invasion, continues to attract allies from various regions, as highlighted by Moscow's economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev.