On October 18, 2026, St. Petersburg experienced a massive drone attack that resulted in severe consequences for the city. Key infrastructure objects were targeted, including the data center of "VKontakte" and an oil terminal.
Consequences of the Attack
As a result of the drone attack, St. Petersburg is experiencing significant power outages. Parts of the city and the Leningrad region have lost electricity, and there are also reports of limited mobile internet access. The main consequences include:
- A fire at the "Petersburg Oil Terminal," where a reservoir park caught fire.
- Damage to the "VKontakte" data center, leading to widespread service disruptions.
- Hits on the cable-stayed bridge, which is 620 meters long, over the shipping canal.
- Damage to the 330 kV "Vostochnaya" substation, causing power outages.
Actions of Russian Air Defense
In response to the attack, the Russian air defense system (PVO) was actively engaged, which, according to preliminary reports, may have redirected some drones towards civilian targets. This caused additional issues as drones struck not only military but also critical civilian infrastructure.
Government Response
The authorities of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region are currently working to mitigate the aftermath of the attack. Information about the events is still coming in, and local services are working to restore power and stabilize the situation. No official statements regarding the reasons for the attack have been made yet.