{
  "id": 15434293,
  "title": "Kremlin says Ukrainian attacks will not change war aims as Kyiv strikes Saint Petersburg",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/kremlin-says-ukrainian-attacks-will-not-change-war-aims-as-kyiv-15434293",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T14:24:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/18/kremlin-says-ukrainian-attacks-will-not-change-war-aims-as-kyiv-strikes-saint-petersburg"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nUkrainian 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.\n\nSaint 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.\n\nRussia'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.\n\nDespite 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.",
  "summary": "Ukraine launched its biggest drone attack on Russian president Vladimir Putin’s hometown since 2022, setting an oil refinery ablaze in Saint Petersburg.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Financial Times",
        "title": "St Petersburg endures biggest Ukrainian drone attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/st-petersburg-endures-biggest-ukrainian-drone-attack",
        "published": "2026-10-18T11:01:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Ukrainian drone attack on Saint Petersburg kills one, sets refinery ablaze",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/ukrainian-drone-attack-on-saint-petersburg-kills-one-sets-refinery",
        "published": "2026-10-18T12:03:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Kremlin says Ukrainian attacks will not change war aims as Kyiv strikes Saint Petersburg",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/kremlin-says-ukrainian-attacks-will-not-change-war-aims-as-kyiv",
        "published": "2026-10-18T14:24:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Independent",
        "title": "Ukraine war latest: St. Petersburg slammed by drones in mass Ukrainian attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/ukraine-war-latest-st-petersburg-slammed-by-drones-in-mass-ukrainian",
        "published": "2026-10-18T16:27:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}