<p>Thick smoke and flames were reported at oil facilities in Russia’s St Petersburg after Ukraine launched one of its largest aerial attacks of the war, with Moscow claiming to have intercepted more than 1,000 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions.</p><p>Videos circulating on social media showed fires and plumes of smoke rising from the affected areas, as the latest strikes brought Russia’s oil infrastructure back into focus amid growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington.</p><h2><strong>Oil terminal, depot hit in overnight attack</strong></h2><p>St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said one person was killed and five others were wounded in the attack. Fires broke out at the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchi oil depot, according to local authorities.</p><p>A logistics centre belonging to Russian retailer Ozon and a data centre operated by technology company VK were also targeted, the companies confirmed.</p><p>Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had destroyed 1,015 Ukrainian drones over 15 Russian regions, as well as Crimea and the Black Sea. The figures could not be independently verified.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Putin's home town of St Petersburg is burning.

Putin concentrated all air defense around Moscow and left his home town unprotected. https://t.co/ParwXHEGIm</p>&mdash; Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) <a href="https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/2111756592450339283?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">St Petersburg by night and St Petersburg by day. https://t.co/SxZFvj3FfO</p>&mdash; Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) <a href="https://x.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/2111761229123391996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨BREAKING: UKRAINIAN DRONES SET ST. PETERSBURG OIL TERMINAL ON FIRE — BALTIC EXPORT HUB BURNS, AIR DEFENSES STRIPPED FROM THE FRONT, TRUMP’S ENERGY PAUSE FAILS

Russia is at war with Ukraine. St. Petersburg is its second-largest city and the main Baltic exit for refined fuel. Overnight on 18 October, long-range Ukrainian drones hit the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal (capacity over 12 million tons a year) and the nearby Ruchyi Oil Depot. Fires destroyed tanks and pumps. The same wave hit a VKontakte data center, a power substation, and the Western High-Speed Diameter toll bridge. Pulkovo Airport locked down under a “Carpet” alert. Russian officials said they intercepted over 100 drones. The video shows the explosions and large flames.
Ukraine flew the drones overland 850–1,000 km from its northern regions, low and under radar. The terminal fire forces tankers to divert, delays export revenue, and raises war-risk insurance. Moscow has to pull Pantsir and S-400 batteries off the front to cover the city. The strike undercuts U.S. pressure for an energy-infrastructure pause. The frames are the fire. The distance and the second-wave targets are the claim.
Who absorbs the cost when the Baltic terminal burns — the Russian exporter, or the side still pushing the ceasefire?</p>&mdash; Slavic Networks (@SlavicNetworks) <a href="https://x.com/SlavicNetworks/status/2111700476714463737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
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<p><h2><strong>Zelensky accuses Russia of ‘deliberate’ strikes</strong></h2><p>The attacks came as Russia continued its aerial bombardment of Ukraine. A woman was killed and at least two people, including a six-year-old girl, were injured in Russian strikes on the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, local officials said. Two apartment buildings, 18 cars and an educational institution were damaged, according to regional military administration head Mykhailo Semikin.</p><p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday (Oct 18) accused Russia of “deliberately” attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, despite US President Donald Trump’s announcement of an energy ceasefire last week. He said that Moscow has carried out 76 attacks on the country’s energy, oil and gas sectors since then.</p><p>Zelensky urged Washington to recognise what he described as Russia’s failure to reciprocate efforts to ease sanctions or reach agreements. He argued that concessions were encouraging Moscow to continue fighting rather than pursue peace.</p><p>“It is Russia that must face pressure for peace to have a chance,” he said, calling on Ukraine’s international partners to maintain pressure on Moscow.</p><h2><strong>Trump’s ‘energy ceasefire’ that wasn’t</strong></h2><p>The developments come a week after Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine on October 11, saying it was “effective immediately”. However, neither Kyiv nor Moscow confirmed it. Zelensky said that Trump’s announcement was “news” to him, although he said that Ukraine would abide by it if Moscow did the same.</p><p>However, just hours later, Kyiv accused Moscow of striking at least six of its energy infrastructure facilities just hours after the announcement. Following Russian attacks, the Ukrainian president earlier declared that Kyiv will no longer abide by US President Donald Trump’s energy ceasefire that demanded a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure.</p><p>Trump’s announcement came amid a growing rift between Kyiv and Washington over a US-Russia diesel agreement. Zelensky has criticised the easing of restrictions on Russian diesel exports, arguing that it could benefit Moscow without securing concessions.</p></p>

Social media videos show fire and smoke at St Petersburg oil sites after Ukraine's drone attack on Russia. Moscow says it intercepted 1,015 drones as the energy ceasefire faces fresh strain.

Thick smoke and flames were reported at oil facilities in Russia’s St Petersburg after Ukraine launched one of its largest aerial attacks of the war, with Moscow claiming to have intercepted more than 1,000 Ukrainian drones across multiple regions. Videos circulating on social media showed fires and plumes of smoke rising from the affected areas, as the latest strikes brought Russia’s oil infrastructure back into focus amid growing tensions between Kyiv and Washington. Oil terminal, depot hit in overnight attack St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said one person was killed and five others were wounded in the attack. Fires broke out at the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchi oil depot, according to local authorities. A logistics centre belonging to Russian retailer Ozon and a data centre operated by technology company VK were also targeted, the companies confirmed. Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had destroyed 1,015 Ukrainian drones over 15 Russian regions, as well as Crimea and the Black Sea. The figures could not be independently verified.

<p>Social media videos show fire and smoke at St Petersburg oil sites after Ukraine's drone attack on Russia. Moscow says it intercepted 1,015 drones as the energy ceasefire faces fresh strain.</p>

WATCH | Flames engulf St Petersburg oil sites as Ukraine launches 1,000 drones at Russia

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WATCH | Flames engulf St Petersburg oil sites as Ukraine launches 1,000 drones at Russia