Ukrainian drones reached Russia’s second city this Wednesday, the same day the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, known as “the Russian Davos,” begins. The airstrike hit three districts of the city, representing a serious setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who sees this economic event as a window to attract investments to Russia.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his drones had hit an oil terminal near the city. A column of black smoke was visible in the morning from the city’s historic center. They had also struck a nearby military facility, he added.
St. Petersburg authorities, for their part, acknowledge damage to infrastructure and the presence of injured people. The affected districts were Kronstadt, a port city on Kotlin Island, located 30 kilometers from the center of St. Petersburg but administratively dependent on it; Kirov; and Krasnoselsky, both in the southwest of the city.
Cancelled flights and mobile internet access restrictions
“Various infrastructures” were damaged in all of them, said St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov. His office noted that the early Ukrainian offensive caused injuries, although it did not specify the number, and assured that there were no fatalities.
As a result of the attack, St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport had to cancel or delay more than 30 flights.
Local media also reported failures in mobile phone internet service. Russia has been restricting internet access via telephony for security reasons for months, a measure poorly received among the Russian population.
Alexander Drozdenko, governor of Leningrad, the Russian region surrounding St. Petersburg that retains its Soviet name, said that air defenses had shot down 59 Ukrainian drones overnight.
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The International Economic Forum, an event through which Putin wants to showcase the best of Russia
At a time when Russia and Ukraine have intensified air assaults in a war lasting more than four years, the attack on St. Petersburg represents a serious setback for the Russian president.
On one hand, Putin was born in this city in 1952. On the other, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is his pride from a commercial perspective. The so-called “Russian Davos” is a flagship event designed to attract foreign investment and showcase the best of Russia to the world. This year’s edition begins this Wednesday, June 3, and will last until Friday, the 6th.
The forum began to be held in the city on the Neva River in 1997, and since 2005 has included the participation of the Russian president. Putin will speak at the plenary session next Friday.
This year’s edition is held under the title “Pragmatic Dialogue: The Path to a Stable Future.” More than 130 countries will participate, including representatives from seven countries considered “unfriendly” by Russia.
Among the latter will be a delegation from the United States. Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin advisor for international affairs, confirmed on Tuesday the presence of the U.S. delegation, led by Rodney Cook, chairman of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. The St. Petersburg forum had not had U.S. representatives since the 2018 conference.
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