Ukrainian drone strike has hit an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, over 1,000 miles away from Kyiv. If confirmed, this attack would mark an expansion in Ukraine’s efforts to strike deep inside Russian territory.
An anonymous military source in Ukraine told Kyiv Post that strikes were caused by an intelligence operation involving modern Ukrainian assets; the source did not give further details.
Ukraine’s minister of strategic industries claims the attack
Building the next generation of arms control architecture will require a shared commitment to its value, as well as innovative policy approaches, including accommodating greater flexibility during negotiations and understanding that each side has legitimate concerns.
Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine’s minister of strategic industries, asserts that the drones used in Thursday’s attack on an oil terminal and nearby Leningrad region in St Petersburg were made in Ukraine at an affordable cost of $350 each and capable of long distance flight. He claims this shows Ukraine can now produce such drones as part of their production capabilities.
Lavrov cautioned the West against encouraging Ukraine to increase attacks against Russia, and noted that New START’s expiration could precipitate another showdown similar to 1962 Cuban missile crisis. He accused United States and NATO of backing “hybrid war,” though he remained open to discussing successor treaty options to New START as well as discussing issues concerning Ukraine/Russia relations and Moscow-Kyiv relations.
Ukrainska Pravda reports
On Saturday, Ukraine’s Air Force reportedly attacked Russian military targets near the border. According to Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, drones from Ukrainian Air Force strike teams targeted Russian military facilities such as Tambov Gunpowder Plant near Kotovsk in Tambov Oblast and an oil depot located in Klintsy in Bryansk Oblast causing considerable damage at both locations.
On Sunday, Russia reported that Ukrainian drones attacked weapons storage areas in Crimea and caused a fire at an oil depot near St. Petersburg in southwestern Russia. Russian military claimed it intercepted over 70 drones while Ukraine reported 32.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently called Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss a recent cafe explosion that killed pro-war blogger Igor Strelkov and detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich, according to CBS News senior foreign correspondent Ian Lee who joined them during their call. He shared further details from it.
Kommersant reports
Kommersant’s editor-in-chief has announced her resignation following publication of a report accusing state energy giant Rosneft of using its influence to assist Vladimir Putin impose counter-sanctions against Western countries, according to sources close to Rosneft. The report quoted such sources.
At least 100 miles outside Moscow in western Russia, a drone exploded less than 100 miles from its capital, according to regional governor Mikhail Voevod’s announcement via Telegram. He noted that no damage occurred and was intercepted by air defense systems before its explosion occurred.
Kommersant reports that Vladimir Putin offered private remarks regarding the drone attack while meeting with editors-in-chief from Russian media outlets on May 8. He allegedly explained to them that an improvised drone fabricated from wire and modern materials had flown into Hmeimim base in Syria.
Ukrainian forces have made incremental advances southwest of St. Petersburg, prompting Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova to accuse Kyiv of engaging in war crimes against civilians. Additionally, Bashkir singer Fail Alsynov was arrested earlier this year and remains imprisoned without access to lawyers or his support network.
CNBC’s live blog
Russia’s military asserts that air defense systems have successfully disarmed drones over Moscow and St. Petersburg. Additionally, a drone attack damaged four military cargo planes at an airfield hundreds of miles from Ukraine; regional governor posted video footage showing thick black plumes of smoke emanating from this facility on Telegram.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon announced it would send mine-clearing equipment and demolition munitions to Ukraine as part of a larger package of military assistance. According to Defense Department documents, these supplies will help Ukrainian soldiers breach Russian minefields during counteroffensive actions against them.
CNBC could not verify this audio message from Yevgeny Prigozhin, commander of Wagner mercenaries who led last month’s attempted coup against Moscow. Dmitry Peskov from the Kremlin denied knowledge of it as it did not represent a change to Ukraine war status quo.
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