Ukrainian Strike Drones Target Key Infrastructure in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region, Hitting Oil Terminal, VKontakte Data Center, and Ozon Warehouse

Nighttime Assault on St. Petersburg and Surrounding Area

According to ХВИЛЯ: In the early hours of October 18, Ukrainian combat drones launched a series of coordinated strikes across St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. Several critical sites were hit, including:

• St. Petersburg’s major oil terminal
• Ruchyi oil depot
• VKontakte data center
• Electrical substation
• Cable-stayed bridge
• Ozon logistics warehouse

The attack resulted in significant fires and widespread power outages.

Details on the Impacted Facilities

The oil terminal at St. Petersburg’s Large Port is the Baltic region’s largest oil product transshipment hub, handling an annual throughput of 10 to 12 million tons. Following drone strikes, a fire broke out at the terminal and burned until at least 7:30 a.m. Although the Ruchyi oil depot, which houses 36 tanks totaling nearly 74,000 cubic meters, was also targeted, Russian officials have not confirmed damage to this facility.

The VKontakte data center, located in the village of Novosergiyevka within the Vsevolozhsk district of Leningrad region, sustained considerable damage. Nearby, the 330 kV Vostochnaya electrical substation was also hit, cutting power to around 20,000 residents in St. Petersburg and the surrounding area. Users reported disruptions to VKontakte services between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m.

Additionally, drones struck the cable-stayed bridge spanning the Korabelny fairway, though the extent of the damage remains unclear. The Ozon logistics warehouse, covering approximately 51,500 square meters, caught fire on a large scale. The warehouse is noted to serve dual purposes. Alexander Drozdenko, governor of Leningrad region, confirmed the regional attack and acknowledged the oil terminal fire.

This incident is part of an ongoing pattern where Ukrainian defense forces have recently targeted data centers and other critical infrastructure across various Russian regions.

This escalation highlights the intensifying conflict between Ukraine and Russia, particularly the strategic deployment of drones against vital infrastructure.

Striking facilities that are essential to Russia’s economy and energy security suggests a shift in Ukrainian military tactics amid the ongoing war. However, these operations risk further escalating tensions and provoking retaliatory measures from Russia.