Ukraine Unleashes Over 1,000 Drones in Massive Strike, Igniting Russian Oil Facilities

Smoke billowed over St Petersburg on October 18, 2026, following a Ukrainian air assault targeting the city's oil terminal. In one of Kyiv’s largest aerial offensives of the war, at least one person was killed and five others injured after Ukraine deployed more than 1,000 drones against Russia.

St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov reported that firefighters were actively combating blazes ignited by the attacks on the St Petersburg oil terminal, the Ruchi oil depot, and industrial warehouses in the Kolpinsky district, south of the city. The governor confirmed the "massive" strike resulted in at least one fatality and five injuries, with several residential buildings and two houses also sustaining damage.

The assault caused disruptions to flights at St Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport, one of Russia's busiest, which temporarily restricted operations for safety reasons, according to Beglov. Russian e-commerce giant Ozon confirmed a fire at its logistics hub in St Petersburg. Internet company VK also reported drone attacks on its data center in the wider Leningrad region, though it assured users that normal services remained available.

Leningrad Governor Alexander Drozdenko stated that 145 drones were successfully intercepted, and approximately 20,000 residents were left without electricity following the extensive drone raid. The Ministry of Defence announced that a total of 1,015 Ukrainian drones were neutralized overnight across 15 Russian regions, including the annexed Crimean peninsula and the Black Sea.

US-Ukraine Tensions Escalate Amidst Strikes

These strikes occurred as tensions between Kyiv and Washington intensified. US President Donald Trump voiced criticism regarding Ukraine's targeting of Russian energy infrastructure, while the possibility of further US sanctions against Moscow remained uncertain. On Sunday, Trump defended his earlier decision to pause new sanctions on Russia, stating his intention to avoid actions that could "foolishly" alienate Moscow from negotiation efforts.

In a social media statement, the US President expressed his belief that new sanctions would hinder diplomatic efforts to end Moscow's war in Ukraine, countering bipartisan concerns that he was prioritizing Russian President Vladimir Putin's interests over Kyiv's. Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for launching strikes on Russian energy facilities, suggesting Zelenskyy "doesn’t want to end this war," a sentiment that contrasted with Zelenskyy's stance on Trump's recent engagement with Putin.

President Trump had previously announced on October 11 an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine, though details were scarce. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy later informed The Financial Times that he considered the ceasefire over, citing Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine's energy sector despite Ukraine's initial restraint. Zelenskyy posted on X on Sunday that Russia had targeted Ukraine’s energy, oil, and gas sectors 76 times in the week following Trump’s announcement. He noted that energy facilities in four Ukrainian regions were struck overnight, leaving tens of thousands without power, and accused Russia of attempting to "cause a blackout."

"America should see that Russia is not taking any reciprocal steps in response to sanctions relief or agreements," Zelenskyy stated. Appearing on NBC's Meet the Press, Zelenskyy argued that waiving sanctions against Russia would bolster Putin's war capabilities and noted that US-Ukraine intelligence sharing had resumed after a period of being "blocked." While expressing trust in President Trump, Zelenskyy warned that siding with Moscow would be a "historic mistake" for Washington.

Later on Sunday, Zelenskyy reported on social media that he had discussed the outcomes of an October 9 meeting between Washington and Kyiv's negotiating teams in Miami, along with "next steps in diplomacy," with US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Russian Strikes Claim Lives in Ukraine

Meanwhile, a Russian air strike tragically killed a woman in Kyiv overnight and damaged a subway station and a 25-storey residential building, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko's Telegram post on Monday. The attack also impacted non-residential buildings and a medical facility, injuring three others in the capital. In the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, two Russian attacks resulted in the death of a woman and injured at least two others, including a six-year-old girl, local officials reported on Sunday.

In another X post on Sunday, Zelenskyy stated that Russian strikes on residential buildings had killed two people and injured 12, including two children, in Volyn. "This morning, there was a strike on an agricultural enterprise in Volyn. All necessary services are working at the site," he added. The Ukrainian president concluded by noting that over the past week, Russia had attacked Ukraine with nearly 2,700 attack drones, 1,700 aerial bombs, and 66 missiles, predominantly ballistic.