Security · June 2026

Ukraine struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg and a naval base in Kronstadt with drones as President Vladimir Putin's annual economic forum began. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed the attack, which highlighted Ukraine's ability to hit deep inside Russian territory. The Kremlin called for a change in tactics after the strike, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov framing it as systemic retaliation. Russia also reported downing 354 drones overnight and accused Ukraine of killing eight civilians in a drone strike on a bus in the Donetsk region. France arrested the Russian captain of a Moscow-linked oil tanker. Romania said allies are preparing to bolster air defenses after a Russian drone strike violated its airspace. NATO's chief warned young Russians they would die in the Ukraine war. The President of the Free Russia Foundation was placed on a wanted list.