Ukrainian drones struck several major targets in Russia's second-largest city, St Petersburg, overnight on 3–4 July 2026. The attack hit an oil processing plant, a naval base, and a port — and it was by far the largest strike on the city's infrastructure since the war began.

According to Al Jazeera, the drones were launched from roughly 900 kilometers away, far deeper inside Russian territory than usual. Local governors said Russian air defenses shot down about 72 drones over the region, though Russia claimed it intercepted 389 drones nationwide that night. The strikes were powerful enough to close the city's main airport temporarily and force Russian authorities to shut down mobile phone networks across St Petersburg — an unusual step taken to disrupt the signals that some drones use to navigate.

One drone landed near Peterhof Palace, a famous UNESCO-protected site. Another hit the oil terminal directly. These were not accidents: Ukrainian officials were explicit about what they targeted and why.

Ukraine's military says the drone campaign has now disabled about 43 percent of Russia's oil refining capacity. That is, the plants that turn crude oil into gasoline and diesel fuel are running at reduced power — or not at all. Eight refineries have been hit in the past month alone. Ukraine puts the total damage at $13.5 billion since August 2025.

Independent energy experts say the real number is closer to one-third of capacity — still enormous, but smaller than Ukraine's claim. The difference matters because it affects how much fuel Russia can actually produce and use. Think of it like a car factory: shutting down the assembly line sounds worse than it is if you can quickly reopen it, but if repairs take months, the real damage is much greater. Reuters reported on 24 June 2026 that one Moscow refinery hit by drones won't be back online until at least 2027 — meaning the damage is serious and long-lasting.

The effects are already showing up inside Russia. Fuel is becoming harder to find. Moscow has banned oil exports to other countries and limited how much fuel people in more than 40 regions can buy. President Vladimir Putin said the shortages are "not critical," but having to ration fuel is a sign the pressure is real.

This St Petersburg strike was not an isolated incident. On 1–2 July, just days before, Russian missiles and drones killed at least 30 people in Kyiv. Russia also hit gas facilities in Ukraine intended to keep the country warm during winter. Ukraine and Russia are trading blows against each other's energy systems — using long-range drones and missiles to strike far behind the front lines.

Ukraine has attacked Russian oil plants multiple times over the past month. On 3 June, drones hit another oil terminal near St Petersburg. On 26 June, they struck a chemical plant in Russia's Tula region for the second time in two weeks. These are not random strikes. They follow a clear plan: damage Russia's ability to produce fuel and money for the war.

Why does this matter? Ukraine cannot match Russia's firepower in traditional battles, so it is using drones to attack the fuel and money that power Russia's military. If Ukraine can disrupt Russia's oil production badly enough, and for long enough, Russia will have less fuel for its army and less money to buy weapons. Whether Ukraine can do this fast enough, and before Russia finds ways around the damage, is the big question now.