Deep Into Russia: Ukraine Damages Navy Ships in Kronstadt Port Near St. Petersburg

The Ukrainian military has struck ships and infrastructure in the port of Kronstadt in Russia’s Leningrad region, one of the key bases of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy, according to Ukraine’s General Staff.

The attack was initially reported by Denis Shtilerman, co-owner and chief designer of the Fire Point company, who noted that the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) was opening on Wednesday.

“We really wanted to organize an excursion for guests to the cruiser Moskva, but, unfortunately, we were unable to bring it. Therefore, we had to sink two other ships right at the event site. I hope that all guests of the SPIEF-2026 will breathe deeply and enjoy the views,” he wrote on X.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine achieved “purely military goals” at the Kronstadt base, without specifying the exact targets.

Ukraine’s General Staff said preliminary information indicated that ships and infrastructure in the port of Kronstadt had been hit, with damage still being assessed.

The head of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, published footage showing a strike on a Russian corvette identified as Boykiy.

According to Brovdi, the vessel was in a dry dock at the Kronstadt naval base, about 1,100 km (684 miles) from Ukraine.

“The USF birds hunted and set fire to the corvette Boykiy, a carrier of guided missile weapons,” he said.

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The Boykiy is a Project 20380 corvette and part of the Russian Baltic Fleet. It entered service in 2013 and is designed for multi-role operations, including surface and airborne targets and supporting coastal strikes.

Brovdi said the vessel had been undergoing scheduled repairs as of February.

“It has an interesting history of operations and deployments along NATO borders and reportedly accompanied Russia’s shadow oil fleet. It was also known for its collision with the research vessel Admiral Vladimirsky,” he added.

The General Staff later confirmed that a corvette of the Steregushchy class, Project 20380, had been damaged.

“According to preliminary information, it is the ship Boykiy. A large-scale fire on board the vessel has been confirmed. The extent of the damage is being clarified,” the report said.

Multiple strikes reported

Ukrainian forces also carried out overnight strikes on several key military and energy-related targets deep inside Russia, including the St. Petersburg oil terminal, facilities at the Kronstadt naval base, and a defense industry enterprise in the Tambov region.

On Wednesday, a large fire broke out at the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal after what Russian authorities described as a massive overnight drone attack on the Leningrad region.

Independent Telegram channel Astra identified the site as one of the largest oil-handling facilities in northwestern Russia.

Authorities activated the “Kover” emergency procedure at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport, causing flight disruptions, with more than 10 departures being delayed or canceled. Residents reported explosions before smoke was seen rising over the city.

Separately, Russian Telegram channels reported a strike on the Progress plant in Michurinsk, Tambov region, believed to produce control systems and equipment used in military aviation and missiles.

In a statement, Zelensky said the operation involved the USF, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Special Operations Forces (SSO), the State Border Guard Service (DPSU), and other units.

“There are good results from our long-range sanctions. Important facilities on Russian territory were hit overnight,” he said.

Zelensky confirmed the strike on the St. Petersburg oil terminal and a target in the Tambov region, roughly 600 kilometers (373 miles) from the front.

He added that such operations were part of Ukraine’s broader campaign to pressure Russia into peace talks.

Reaction from Moscow

The attack coincided with the opening of the SPIEF, often referred to as the “Russian Davos,” which the Kremlin uses to project economic stability despite sanctions and isolation over the war in Ukraine.

In response to the strikes, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said Russia would continue strikes on Ukraine.

He referred to a previous statement by the Russian foreign ministry warning that Moscow’s response to such attacks “will be and already is of a systemic nature.”