St. petersburg: Ukraine launched a drone strike on a passenger bus in Russian-held eastern Ukraine, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. This was followed by a drone attack on an oil depot in St. Petersburg, President Vladimir Putin's hometown, on the opening day of the World Economic Forum, or "Russian Davos," in retaliation for a large-scale Russian missile and drone strike on Kyiv and Dnipro the previous day, which killed at least 23 people.
According to Thai News Agency, the Russian-appointed leader of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, who had taken control of the area, revealed via Telegram that the bus was attacked in the town of Yenagyevo in the Donetsk region in the early hours of Wednesday (June 3) while en route from Moscow to Simferopol in Crimea. The attack resulted in seven deaths and 11 injuries. The Russian National Investigative Committee immediately launched a criminal investigation, classifying the incident as an act of terrorism.
In addition, Ukraine also launched a drone strike on a St. Petersburg oil depot, the hometown of President Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday, coinciding with the opening of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), dubbed by international media as the "Russian Davos." The attack resulted in a large plume of black smoke clearly visible from the forum venue, as the oil export depot is located only 17 kilometers away. This depot is one of the largest oil distribution centers in northwestern Russia, with a production capacity of up to 12.5 million tons per year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack was intended as a remote sanctions measure to undermine the economy and damage the Kremlin's image. The Kremlin was trying to use the summit to demonstrate economic stability and that Russia remains open to foreign investment despite heavy Western sanctions. Meanwhile, Ukraine also launched drone strikes at the Kronstadt naval base on an island near St. Petersburg and an industrial plant in the Tambov region, which produces components for Russian missile and aircraft control systems.
The governor of St. Petersburg stated that infrastructure was damaged in three districts and several people were injured, but there were no reports of fatalities. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense said its air defense system shot down 354 Ukrainian drones overnight. However, some drones managed to escape, causing damage and large fires.
This cross-border strike, more than 1,100 kilometers deep, was described as a retaliatory operation by Ukraine after Russia launched a massive airstrike, firing 73 missiles and deploying nearly 660 drones on Kyiv and Dnipro on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, leaving at least 23 dead and more than 130 injured. Moscow claimed it was in retaliation for Ukraine's missile attacks on vocational schools and dormitories in the Luhansk region in May.