Ukraine Strikes St. Petersburg: Bitter Pill for Putin?

The opening of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum was overshadowed by Ukrainian drone strikes on a nearby oil terminal, prompting debate over Russia’s security and economic resilience. Commentators argue the attacks expose vulnerabilities in Russia’s defenses, challenge the Kremlin’s narrative of stability, and highlight the widening gap between the forum’s image of strength and the realities of war, sanctions, and economic strain.