Ukraine Targets Russian Oil Facilities in St. Petersburg Drone Attack
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Key takeaways
- Ukrainian long-range drones struck an oil-export terminal and depot in St. Petersburg, Russia.
- Founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great, St. Petersburg served as the capital of the Russian Empire from 1712 to 1918.
- St. Petersburg was known as Petrograd (1914-1924) and Leningrad (1924-1991) before reverting to its original name.
- The city serves as the northern gateway of the 7,200-km International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connecting Russia to India's Mumbai Port.
Why in News
- Ukraine executed a major long-range drone attack against Russia.
- The strike triggered fires at an oil depot and an oil-export terminal in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Key Facts About St. Petersburg
- St. Petersburg is a key port city located in northwestern Russia along the Neva River near the Gulf of Finland, which links to the Baltic Sea.
- Tsar Peter the Great established the city in 1703, and it functioned as the capital of the Russian Empire from 1712 to 1918.
- The city was earlier named Petrograd (1914-1924) and later Leningrad (1924-1991), remaining Russia second-largest city as well as a vital maritime and industrial hub.
- Its geographical position offers direct access to the strategic Baltic Sea.
- It acts as the northern terminus for the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200-km multimodal route linking Russia with India's Mumbai Port through Iran and Azerbaijan.