Ukraine Launches More Than 1,000 Drones at Russia, Setting Oil Facilities Ablaze in St Petersburg

MOSCOW/KYIV (Terror Monitor) — Ukraine launched one of its largest aerial attacks of the war against Russia on Sunday, deploying more than 1,000 drones in strikes that set an oil export terminal and an oil depot ablaze in St Petersburg, killing one person and injuring five others, Russian officials said.

The large-scale drone offensive also targeted a logistics centre belonging to Russian online retailer Ozon and a data centre operated by technology company VK, according to local authorities and statements from the companies.

The attacks came amid escalating tensions between Kyiv and Washington over Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil infrastructure and US President Donald Trump’s decision to delay further sanctions against Moscow.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces had destroyed 1,015 Ukrainian drones across 15 Russian regions, the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula and the Black Sea. The ministry did not provide an independent assessment of the damage caused by the attacks.

Oil Export Terminal and Depot Hit in St Petersburg

St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said the Ukrainian strikes sparked fires at the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchi oil depot.

One person was killed and five others were wounded in the attacks, according to Beglov.

The targeting of oil infrastructure highlights Ukraine’s continued efforts to disrupt Russia’s energy industry, a major source of revenue for Moscow as it continues its war against Ukraine.

The attack also affected commercial and technology facilities. Russian retailer Ozon and technology company VK confirmed that their logistics centre and data centre, respectively, had been targeted.

The full extent of the damage to the facilities and the potential impact on their operations remained unclear in the immediate aftermath of the strikes.

The scale of the reported drone operation made it one of Ukraine’s largest aerial offensives against Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russian Attacks Kill Woman in Zaporizhzhia

While Ukraine launched its extensive drone operation against Russian territory, Russian forces continued attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

In the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, a woman was killed and at least two other people were wounded in two Russian attacks, according to local officials. One of the injured was a six-year-old girl.

Regional military administration chief Mykhailo Semikyn said the strikes damaged two residential buildings, 18 vehicles and an educational institution.

The attacks added to concerns about civilian safety as both countries continued to target military and infrastructure-related sites across the front lines and beyond.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Russia of striking civilian areas and critical infrastructure, while Moscow maintains that its military operations target facilities supporting Ukraine’s war effort.

The latest attacks occurred as diplomatic efforts to reduce the intensity of the conflict remained uncertain.

Zelenskyy Says Russia Attacked Energy Sector 76 Times

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of carrying out 76 attacks against Ukraine’s energy, oil and gas sectors in the week following Trump’s announcement of an agreement to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.

In a statement posted on X on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Russian forces had continued targeting critical energy facilities despite the US president’s announcement on October 11.

According to Zelenskyy, the latest Russian strikes hit electrical substations in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi and Odesa regions.

He said tens of thousands of Ukrainian families remained without electricity, while energy workers and repair crews continued working to restore power supplies.

Zelenskyy accused Moscow of attempting to disrupt Ukraine’s electricity system and argued that Russia was using opportunities for economic relief to sustain its military campaign rather than moving towards peace.

“Since the American President announced the energy ceasefire a week ago, Russia has deliberately attacked Ukraine’s energy and oil and gas sectors 76 times,” Zelenskyy wrote, according to Reuters.

The Ukrainian president also said Russia had launched thousands of attack drones, guided aerial bombs and missiles against Ukraine over the past week, with energy infrastructure among the principal targets.

However, neither Kyiv nor Moscow has officially confirmed the ceasefire agreement announced by Trump, leaving its precise terms and status unclear.

Ukraine Resumes Strikes on Russian Oil Infrastructure

Ukraine’s latest offensive followed the resumption of attacks on Russian oil facilities after a three-day pause.

Kyiv had initially indicated that it was observing the energy truce announced by Trump. Ukrainian officials subsequently reported continued Russian strikes against energy infrastructure and said Ukraine had resumed attacks on Russian oil facilities on Thursday.

The competing accusations have undermined hopes that the proposed arrangement would provide an immediate reduction in attacks against critical energy infrastructure.

Ukraine has increasingly targeted Russian oil refineries, terminals and other energy facilities during the war, seeking to disrupt fuel supplies and reduce Moscow’s ability to finance its military operations.

Russia, meanwhile, has continued attacks against Ukraine’s energy network, raising concerns about electricity shortages and the vulnerability of essential services as the country approaches winter.

Zelenskyy said Washington should recognise that Russia had not taken reciprocal steps in response to sanctions relief or diplomatic initiatives.

He argued that Moscow viewed opportunities to generate additional revenue as an incentive to continue the war, rather than as a reason to pursue a settlement.

The Ukrainian president maintained that Russia’s invasion was responsible for the continuation of hostilities and called for increased pressure on Moscow to create conditions for peace.

Trump Delays Decision on Further Russia Sanctions

The latest escalation has coincided with uncertainty over the US administration’s approach to economic pressure on Russia.

Trump said on Saturday that he had not yet made a final decision on further sanctions against Moscow, despite signing an executive order on Friday waiving key sanctions and tariffs linked to Russian exports.

The measures had been scheduled to take effect the following week under legislation known as the Graham Act. They included tariffs on Russian goods and penalties targeting countries purchasing Russian oil and gas.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration could take up to 60 days to assess the economic implications of imposing the sanctions and tariffs.

Rubio said the review would consider the potential consequences for both the global economy and the United States.

Trump defended his approach by saying he would make a decision based on what he considered best for the United States and the wider world.

The decision has drawn criticism from Kyiv, which argues that easing restrictions on Russia could strengthen Moscow’s ability to finance the war.

Zelenskyy warned that waiving sanctions would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and prolong the conflict.

Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Zelenskyy said that siding with Moscow would be a serious mistake for Washington. He also confirmed that intelligence-sharing between the United States and Ukraine had resumed after being suspended for a period, according to The Associated Press.

Washington’s Russia Policy Complicates Relations With Kyiv

The dispute over sanctions and energy infrastructure has added to tensions between Washington and Kyiv over how to bring the war to an end.

The Trump administration has pursued diplomatic and economic initiatives aimed at reducing the conflict’s impact on energy markets while encouraging Russia and Ukraine to move towards negotiations.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright defended a separate agreement involving increased Russian diesel supplies to international markets, describing it as an incentive for Moscow to reduce hostilities rather than an economic lifeline for Russia.

The administration has argued that additional fuel supplies could benefit American consumers amid energy-market disruptions caused by international conflicts.

Ukraine, however, has expressed concern that economic concessions could provide Moscow with additional resources while Russian attacks continue.

The latest drone offensive against St Petersburg illustrates the widening disagreement over the military and diplomatic strategies being pursued to end the conflict.

For Kyiv, attacks on Russian energy infrastructure are intended to impose economic and operational costs on Moscow. For Washington, the challenge includes balancing pressure on Russia with concerns about energy supplies, economic consequences and the prospects for negotiations.

Civilian and Regional Security Concerns Persist

The latest exchange of attacks underscores the continuing vulnerability of civilian populations and critical infrastructure on both sides of the conflict.

In Russia, the reported damage to oil facilities and commercial infrastructure demonstrates the reach of Ukraine’s drone campaign. In Ukraine, continued strikes against residential areas and energy facilities have left civilians dead or injured and thousands of households without reliable electricity.

The competing military operations also raise concerns about the effectiveness of any informal agreement to suspend attacks on energy infrastructure.

With neither side confirming the precise terms of the arrangement announced by Trump, there is no clear indication that the proposed energy ceasefire has established a functioning mechanism to prevent further strikes.

The immediate consequences include damage to oil infrastructure in Russia, casualties in both countries and continued uncertainty over electricity supplies in Ukraine.

As diplomatic efforts continue, the future of US sanctions policy and the extent of Washington’s support for Kyiv remain central issues in the wider conflict.

Terror Monitor will continue to monitor developments in the Russia-Ukraine war, attacks on energy infrastructure, US sanctions policy and diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.