Quick Answer: Ukraine drones launched a massive overnight drone attack on Saint Petersburg, Russia, on October 18, 2026. Governor Alexander Beglov said one person was killed and five others were injured, with fires reported at the city’s oil terminal, an oil depot, and industrial warehouses. Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 1,015 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Beglov confirmed 1 person killed and 5 hospitalized after the overnight attack on Saint Petersburg.
- Fires broke out at the St. Petersburg oil terminal, the Ruchi oil depot, and warehouses in the Kolpino district.
- Ozon’s logistics center and a VK data center in the Leningrad region were also hit.
- Russia said it downed 1,015 Ukrainian drones overnight — one of the largest such claims of the war.
- The Kremlin said it is responding with systematic large-scale strikes; casualty figures remain preliminary.
The overnight barrage marks one of the most intense nights of Russia-Ukraine drone combat in the war, striking roughly 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border and underscoring Kyiv’s expanding ability to hit Russian energy and logistics infrastructure far from the front lines.
How the Ukraine drone attack on Russia unfolded
Residents reported explosions and fires around the port of Saint Petersburg in the early hours of Sunday. Governor Alexander Beglov said on Telegram that “air defense systems are in operation” and confirmed that one person was killed and five others were hurt and hospitalized in what he described as a massive attack by Ukrainian drones.
Al Jazeera published video showing multiple explosions and fires around the port, with witnesses reporting that an oil terminal and a data center were hit. The blasts are among the largest reported drone attacks inside Russia since the war began.
Ukraine drones hit oil terminal, warehouses and data centers
Firefighters were battling blazes at the Saint Petersburg oil terminal — which Channels TV noted was also hit in June — the Ruchi oil depot, and industrial warehouses in the Kolpino district south of the city, according to the governor. Several residential buildings and two houses were also damaged.
Two major companies reported damage on Sunday. Russian e-commerce company Ozon said its logistics center in Saint Petersburg caught fire. Internet company VK said one of its data centers in the Leningrad region was attacked by drones, though it added that its services remain normally available to users. Ukrainian drone producer Fire Point said on Sunday that the Ukrainian military had struck the VK data center near Saint Petersburg.
Air defenses downed 1,015 drones, Russia says
Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 1,015 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight — an extraordinarily high figure. The ministry said drone attacks were reported over multiple Russian regions during the night, though it did not provide evidence for the total, and independent verification was not immediately possible.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia is responding to Ukrainian attacks with systematic, large-scale strikes, telling TASS: “The Kyiv regime is resisting. But this cannot change the course of events.”
A widening energy war, with Ukraine striking Russia far from the front
The strike fits a pattern of Ukrainian long-range attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, even as Russia continues its own drone attacks on Ukraine. On Saturday, Russian forces shelled Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine, where the city military administration said six people were killed and 15 wounded, with bodies still trapped under rubble as of Sunday morning, according to Ukrinform.
For readers following the wider war, Ukraine’s drone campaign has also hit shipping near Romania, while Washington has been reviewing its Russia sanctions stance.
What remains uncertain
Some details are still developing. Early reports differed on the injury count — the governor reported five hurt and hospitalized. The exact drone models used have not been confirmed, and Ukraine has not issued a formal claim of responsibility for the overnight wave. Casualty and damage figures from Russian officials have historically been revised as fires are contained.
FAQs
Did Ukraine attack Saint Petersburg?
Governor Alexander Beglov reported a massive Ukrainian drone attack on the city overnight on October 17–18, and Ukrainian drone producer Fire Point said the Ukrainian military struck a VK data center near Saint Petersburg. Kyiv has not formally claimed responsibility for the attack on Russia.
How many people were killed in the St. Petersburg drone attack?
One person was killed and five others were hurt and hospitalized, according to Governor Alexander Beglov’s statement on Sunday. He said the figures could be updated as emergency crews finish their work.
What did the drones hit in Saint Petersburg?
Fires broke out at the Saint Petersburg oil terminal, the Ruchi oil depot, and industrial warehouses in the Kolpino district, the governor said. Ozon’s logistics center and a VK data center in the Leningrad region were also hit, and several residential buildings were damaged.
How many drones did Russia say it shot down?
Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 1,015 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight — one of the largest such claims of the war. The figure could not be independently verified.
Has Saint Petersburg been attacked by drones before?
Yes. The city’s oil terminal was also hit in a drone attack in June 2026, according to Channels TV. Overnight attacks on Russian energy infrastructure have been a recurring feature of the war.
Sources: Reuters (via Business Day), Al Jazeera, Arab News, Channels TV. Reported from official statements and verified news wires; casualty and damage figures are preliminary and may be revised. Last checked: October 18, 2026.
