Kremlin says Ukrainian attacks will not change war aims as Kyiv strikes Saint Petersburg

On Sunday, the Kremlin declared that Ukrainian large-scale attacks on Russian cities would not alter its war objectives, following Kyiv's intense drone assault on Saint Petersburg - Putin's birthplace - the biggest such strike since 2022. The attack targeted an oil refinery and a depot, resulting in the blaze of an oil terminal visible from the city's historic center along the Neva River. One person died, and five were hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the Russian strikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Russia had violated an energy ceasefire 76 times, warning Moscow planned to create a blackout in Ukraine before winter. This comes amid a strain in relations between Kyiv and Washington, with Trump waiving sanctions on Russia and striking a deal with Moscow on diesel. Ukraine and its European allies have expressed concerns over the White House's apparent alignment with Moscow.

Saint Petersburg's governor, Alexander Beglov, reported one fatality and five hospitalizations in the city, with authorities battling fires at the oil terminal, the Ruchyi oil depot, and industrial warehouses. Flights were restricted at Pulkovo airport, and 12 housing blocks suffered damage.

Russia's VKontakte social network stated its data center was hit in Saint Petersburg, while Ozon, Russia's second-largest retailer, reported a hit on its logistics center. The wider Leningrad region's head, Alexander Drozdenko, confirmed air defense downed 144 Ukrainian drones, calling it the largest attack on the city since the 2022 war began.

Despite continuous Ukrainian assaults, large-scale hits on Russia's main cities remain rare. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the Kyiv regime is fighting, but this cannot change the course of events. Russian forces have killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions during their offensive against Ukraine. Moscow has persistently targeted Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles, while Kyiv claims its strikes are retaliatory. Despite five years of war, few see a viable resolution.