ON
← Back to feed
Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes
World🏛️ PoliticsCenteryesterday

Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes

On 18 October, drone strikes hit multiple locations in St Petersburg, Russia, causing significant damage and casualties. The attacks targeted a warehouse belonging to Ozon, a major online retailer, as well as the St Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchyi oil depot. Social media footage captured intense fires and thick smoke from the affected areas. According to local authorities, air-defense systems were activated in response to a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack. St Petersburg's governor reported one death and five injuries, while airport operations were temporarily halted for safety. The incident occurred amid renewed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, following a brief pause linked to discussions around an 'energy ceasefire' involving U.S. President Donald Trump. Both sides have accused each other of attacking critical energy infrastructure, highlighting the ongoing conflict over such facilities.

Volodymyr Zelensky addressed a message to Belgians shortly after meeting with King Philippe in Brussels. In a post shared on social media late Thursday, the Ukrainian president thanked Belgium for its support to his country. During his audience with the Belgian monarch, Zelensky expressed gratitude to the king, government, and the entire Belgian people for their backing of Ukraine. Zelensky highlighted the ongoing threat faced by Ukraine, stating that the nation is under constant fire from Russian missiles and drones striking cities and communities. His administration has made strengthening air defense its top priority. He emphasized Ukraine's reliance on Belgium to deliver F-16 fighter jets, noting that three such aircraft would be supplied by year-end. These planes and their ammunition help defend against Russian Shahed drones. Zelensky did not directly address the issue of frozen Russian assets in the European Union, particularly in Belgium, though he reiterated the importance of keeping these funds immobilized as long as the war continues. He stressed that Russia should not receive anything that could enable further attacks or destabilize Europe. This stance aligns with a decision made by the EU last year. This is not the first time Zelensky has met with King Philippe. The two leaders have held talks on four previous occasions at the Royal Palace. They also met during the Davos Forum in 2024. Separately, massive fires broke out in Saint Petersburg after a large-scale drone attack. Social media footage showed a warehouse operated by Ozon, Russia's second-largest online retailer, engulfed in flames. Thick smoke rose from the Saint Petersburg Oil Terminal, and an oil refinery and depot were reportedly hit. Saint Petersburg's governor, Alexander Beglov, confirmed that air-defense systems were activated following the overnight attack. Leningrad Region governor Alexander Drozdenko initially reported 126 drones being shot down over the region before raising the number to 144, with some reports suggesting 145. The attack ignited the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchyi oil depot, damaging infrastructure in multiple districts. One person was killed, and five others were injured. Operations at Pulkovo Airport were temporarily restricted for safety. President Zelensky announced that Ukraine would resume attacks on Russian oil refineries after briefly pausing them following Donald Trump’s declaration of an “energy ceasefire” on 11 October. Zelensky accused Russia of conducting 76 attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the subsequent week, including strikes on substations in four regions that left tens of thousands of households without power. The recent exchanges underscore the continued targeting of energy infrastructure by both sides, with refineries, terminals, and power grids remaining central battlegrounds in the ongoing conflict.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

2 reports

Le Soir logoLe SoirIndependentCenterFactual 94Objective 924 days ago
Volodymyr Zelensky sends a message to the Belgians

In a message shared on social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Belgium for its support to Ukraine, following his meeting with King Philippe of Belgium in Brussels. He expressed gratitude to the king, government, and Belgian people for their backing, emphasizing the ongoing threat posed by Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Zelensky highlighted the importance of strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and reiterated his country’s reliance on Belgium to deliver F-16 fighter jets, with three expected to arrive by year-end. These aircraft would help defend against Russian Shahed drones. Zelensky also mentioned the need to keep frozen Russian assets in the EU, including those in Belgium, from being released, aligning with a previous EU decision. However, Belgium has been cautious due to legal and financial risks associated with using these assets.

Bias read (Center): The article presents Zelensky's statements objectively, quoting him directly and providing context about Belgium's position on frozen Russian assets. There is no overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or omission of key perspectives. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the exchange of U.S

Why factuality (94): The article accurately reports that Zelenskyy met with King Philippe of Belgium and thanked them for their support. It also mentions his call for F-16 fighter jets and references the frozen Russian assets issue, aligning closely with the cross-source consensus. The only minor uncertainty is the exac

Why objectivity (92): The article maintains a neutral tone overall, presenting Zelenskyy’s statements without overt bias. It avoids strong emotive language while still acknowledging the gravity of the situation. However, it slightly emphasizes Ukraine’s position on frozen assets without providing counterpoints from Belgi

Africanews logoAfricanewsIndependentCenteryesterday
Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes

On 18 October, drone strikes hit multiple locations in St Petersburg, Russia, causing significant damage and casualties. The attacks targeted a warehouse belonging to Ozon, a major online retailer, as well as the St Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchyi oil depot. Social media footage captured intense fires and thick smoke from the affected areas. According to local authorities, air-defense systems were activated in response to a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack. St Petersburg's governor reported one death and five injuries, while airport operations were temporarily halted for safety. The incident occurred amid renewed Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, following a brief pause linked to discussions around an 'energy ceasefire' involving U.S. President Donald Trump. Both sides have accused each other of attacking critical energy infrastructure, highlighting the ongoing conflict over such facilities.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced account of the drone strike event, citing statements from both Russian officials and Ukrainian President Zelensky. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or omissions that would indicate a clear ideological leaning. The framing remains fact-f

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories