According to reports from the Wall Street Journal and others, the attack occurred on the morning of June 6, local time, focusing on Russian military installations in the St. Petersburg area.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced via X (formerly Twitter) that the strikes hit the Kronstadt Naval Base west of St. Petersburg, an armory, and an oil depot in the Krasnodar region.
"It is time to end the war, but the Russian leader wants to continue fighting," Zelensky stated, urging an end to life-threatening attacks.
Smoke was seen rising near St. Petersburg, where an economic forum was taking place.
Russian authorities reported damage to infrastructure and injuries from the attack, but no fatalities. Alexander Beglov, the mayor of St. Petersburg, issued an indoor evacuation order for citizens, the first since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russia claimed to have shot down 376 Ukrainian drones overnight. In contrast, Ukraine reported that Russia launched 272 long-range attack drones, of which 249 were intercepted.
Earlier, President Zelensky sent an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, proposing a face-to-face meeting to negotiate an end to the war.
However, during the St. Petersburg forum, Putin effectively rejected this proposal, indicating that military operations would continue. He emphasized that the war would end only when Russia's objectives were achieved.
In response, Zelensky criticized Putin, stating, "Russia has once again chosen war," and asserted that the Russian leader does not wish for peace.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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