Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes | Africanews (https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/18/russia-huge-flames-and-smoke-rise-over-st-petersburg-after-drone-strikes)            (http://www.africanews.com/amp/2026/10/18/russia-huge-flames-and-smoke-rise-over-st-petersburg-after-drone-strikes/)  (index.html)  (https://sdk.privacy-center.org) (https://fonts.googleapis.com)  (index.html)  (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png?v=3) (../../../../favicon-32x32.png@v=3) (../../../../android-chrome-192x192.png@v=3) (../../../../favicon-96x96.png@v=3) (../../../../favicon-16x16.png@v=3) (../../../../manifest.json@v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/safari-pinned-tab.svg?v=3)   (RSS - No Comment) (http://www.africanews.com/feed/rss?themes=no-comment)  (../../../../css/lightslider-665bf9cf25.min.css)  (../../../../css/video-js-8d393d09be.css)  (../../../../css/videojs-79556b8d53.ima.css)  (../../../../css/main-998c6e1382.css)     (index.html#start-of-content) Skip to main content   Welcome to Africanews Please select your experience     (http://www.africanews.com/) (Africanews) ">                (http://www.africanews.com/live/) (Africanews)        (en) En (fr) Fr    No Comment  Join us (https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/)      (https://twitter.com/africanews)      (https://flipboard.com/@Africanews)    (https://www.youtube.com/c/africanews)      (https://www.linkedin.com/company/africanews?trk=biz-companies-cym)    (https://www.instagram.com/africanews.en)                 (http://www.africanews.com/news/) (News) News   (http://www.africanews.com/business/) (Business) Business   (http://www.africanews.com/sport/) (Sport) Sport   (http://www.africanews.com/culture/) (Culture) Culture   (http://www.africanews.com/science-technology/) (Science & Technology) Science & Technology   (http://www.africanews.com/no-comment/) (No Comment) No Comment   (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/) (Programmes) Programmes   (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/af-podcasts/) (Podcast) Podcast    (http://www.africanews.com/live/)  Live   (http://www.africanews.com/weather/)    (Search ...)             (http://www.africanews.com/weather/) weather  Close (index.html#)         (Search ...)     Watch Live     (http://www.africanews.com/news/) (News) News  (http://www.africanews.com/business/) (Business) Business  (http://www.africanews.com/sport/) (Sport) Sport  (http://www.africanews.com/culture/) (Culture) Culture  (http://www.africanews.com/science-technology/) (Science & Technology) Science & Technology  (http://www.africanews.com/no-comment/) (No Comment) No Comment  (http://www.africanews.com/programmes) (Programmes) Programmes  (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/af-podcasts/) (Podcast) Podcast   (http://www.africanews.com/weather) (Weather) Weather      Breaking
                News  Close (index.html#)       (index.html#)  Just In (share_on_your_website) (share_on_your_website) Copy/paste the script below  (<iframe src="http://www.africanews.com/embed/timeline/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="min-height:500px; width:100%; height:100%;"></iframe>)  (http://www.africanews.com/page/widgets/) OTHER WIDGETS       October 18, 2026  17:56   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/france-paris-lyon-and-marseille-count-the-cost-after-violent-protests/) (France: Paris, Lyon and Marseille count the cost after violent protests) France: Paris, Lyon and Marseille count the cost after violent protests      16:45   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/pope-leo-xiv-thanks-faithful-for-prayers-at-first-appearance-since-surgery/) (Pope Leo XIV thanks faithful for prayers at first appearance since surgery) Pope Leo XIV thanks faithful for prayers at first appearance since surgery      16:45   (index.html) (Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes) Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes     Advertising     15:30   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/imf-annual-meeting-developing-nations-need-greater-digital-connectivity/) (IMF annual meeting: Developing nations need greater digital connectivity) IMF annual meeting: Developing nations need greater digital connectivity      14:52   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/cameroons-opposition-mrc-elects-its-first-female-president-tiriane-noah/) (Cameroon's opposition MRC elects its first female president, Tiriane Noah) Cameroon's opposition MRC elects its first female president, Tiriane Noah      11:59   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/smashed-storefronts-burned-buildings-france-wakes-up-to-aftermath-of-violent-protests/) (Smashed storefronts, burned buildings: France wakes up to aftermath of violent protests) Smashed storefronts, burned buildings: France wakes up to aftermath of violent protests      10:45   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/nigerias-army-chief-of-staff-visits-troops-in-borno-after-deaths-of-15-soliders/) (Nigeria's Army Chief of Staff visits troops in Borno after deaths of 15 soliders) Nigeria's Army Chief of Staff visits troops in Borno after deaths of 15 soliders      09:58   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/sudanese-gold-miners-describe-deadly-airstrike-that-killed-72/) (Sudanese gold miners describe deadly airstrike that killed 72) Sudanese gold miners describe deadly airstrike that killed 72      08:32   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/drc-accuses-ex-president-kabila-of-planning-general-attack-on-the-country/) (DRC accuses ex-president Kabila of planning 'general attack' on the country) DRC accuses ex-president Kabila of planning 'general attack' on the country     October 17, 2026  16:16   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/17/egypts-president-sisi-will-step-down-when-term-expires-in-2030/) (Egypt's President Sisi will step down when term expires in 2030) Egypt's President Sisi will step down when term expires in 2030      15:10   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/17/senegals-macky-sall-withdraws-from-race-for-un-top-job/) (Senegal's Macky Sall withdraws from race for UN top job) Senegal's Macky Sall withdraws from race for UN top job      14:36   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/17/frontline-workers-in-drc-receive-ervebo-vaccine-amid-growing-ebola-outbreak/) (Frontline workers in DRC receive Ervebo vaccine amid growing Ebola outbreak) Frontline workers in DRC receive Ervebo vaccine amid growing Ebola outbreak      11:46   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/17/all-seven-candidates-to-lead-un-receive-security-council-veto-in-informal-poll/) (All seven candidates to lead UN receive Security Council veto in informal poll) All seven candidates to lead UN receive Security Council veto in informal poll     Advertising       View more          (index.html#home) No Comment   (index.html#just-in) just in          Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes  Last updated: 10 hours ago  Footage shared on social media showed a major blaze at a warehouse operated by Ozon, Russia's second-largest online retailer, which said its logistics centre had been struck. Other images showed thick smoke rising from the area of the St Petersburg Oil Terminal, while an oil refinery and depot were also reportedly hit.

St Petersburg's governor, Alexander Beglov, confirmed that air-defence systems had been activated after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on the city overnight, while Leningrad Region governor Alexander Drozdenko initially reported that 126 drones had been shot down over the surrounding region. He later raised that figure to 144, with some reports putting it at 145.

The assault set the Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchyi oil depot alight and struck infrastructure in several districts of the city. Beglov said one person was killed and five others were injured, while operations at Pulkovo Airport were temporarily restricted for safety reasons.

The strikes came as President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine would resume attacks on Russian oil refineries after briefly suspending them following Donald Trump’s declaration of an “energy ceasefire” on 11 October. Neither side formally confirmed the arrangement, and Zelensky accused Russia of carrying out 76 attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure over the following week, including strikes on substations in four regions that left tens of thousands of families without power.

The latest exchange underlines the continuing struggle over energy infrastructure, with both sides treating refineries, terminals and power grids as central targets in a war that shows no sign of abating.    (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/russia-huge-flames-and-smoke-rise-over-st-petersburg-after-drone-strikes/)    (https://twitter.com/home?status=http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/russia-huge-flames-and-smoke-rise-over-st-petersburg-after-drone-strikes/)    (https://plus.google.com/share?url=http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/russia-huge-flames-and-smoke-rise-over-st-petersburg-after-drone-strikes/)    (mailto:?subject=Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes&body=http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/russia-huge-flames-and-smoke-rise-over-st-petersburg-after-drone-strikes/)    (whatsapp://send?text=http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/18/russia-huge-flames-and-smoke-rise-over-st-petersburg-after-drone-strikes/)      More about  (http://www.africanews.com/tag/russia/) Russia (http://www.africanews.com/tag/saint-petersburg/) Saint Petersburg (http://www.africanews.com/tag/drone-strike/) Drone Strike (http://www.africanews.com/tag/oil/) Oil (http://www.africanews.com/tag/infrastructure/) infrastructure (http://www.africanews.com/tag/war-in-ukraine/) War in Ukraine     up next       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/16/belgium-pumpkimania-festival-takes-over-groot-bijgaarden-castle/) (Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes)    (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/16/belgium-pumpkimania-festival-takes-over-groot-bijgaarden-castle/) Belgium: Pumpkimania festival takes over Groot-Bijgaarden Castle    (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/16/russian-missiles-spark-huge-factory-fires-in-ukraines-odesa-and-zaporizhzhia/) (Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes)    (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/16/russian-missiles-spark-huge-factory-fires-in-ukraines-odesa-and-zaporizhzhia/) Russian missiles spark huge factory fires in Ukraine’s Odesa and Zaporizhzhia    (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/16/italy-nationwide-air-traffic-control-issues-disrupt-flights-at-rome-airport/) (Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes)    (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/16/italy-nationwide-air-traffic-control-issues-disrupt-flights-at-rome-airport/) Italy: Nationwide air traffic control issues disrupt flights at Rome airport    (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/16/turkey-divers-uncover-treasures-from-4700-year-old-shipwreck/) (Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes)    (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/16/turkey-divers-uncover-treasures-from-4700-year-old-shipwreck/) Turkey: Divers uncover treasures from 4,700-year-old shipwreck    (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/16/ukraine-unveils-flying-ambulance-drone-that-could-save-lives-in-minutes/) (Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes)    (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/16/ukraine-unveils-flying-ambulance-drone-that-could-save-lives-in-minutes/) Ukraine unveils flying ambulance drone that could save lives in minutes    (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/16/turkey-worst-rainfall-in-80-years-unleashes-deadly-floods-near-istanbul/) (Russia: Huge flames and smoke rise over St Petersburg after drone strikes)    (http://www.africanews.com/2026/10/16/turkey-worst-rainfall-in-80-years-unleashes-deadly-floods-near-istanbul/) Turkey: Worst rainfall in 80 years unleashes deadly floods near Istanbul        More from no comment          By using this website, you agree with our use of cookies to improve its performance and enhance your user experience. More info in our (http://www.africanews.com/page/cookie/) Cookies policy page .. Ok  (http://www.africanews.com/) (Africanews) ">                Social Channels (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1_E8NeF5QHY2dtdLRBCCLA) (youtube)           (https://twitter.com/africanews) (Twitter)    (https://flipboard.com/@Africanews) (Flipboard)    (https://www.facebook.com/Africanews-1004882306242283/) (facebook)    (https://www.instagram.com/africanews.en) (instagram)       (http://www.africanews.com/page/about/) About Africanews  (https://www.euronews.com/terms-and-conditions) Terms and Conditions  (http://www.africanews.com/page/contact/) Contacts  (https://www.euronews.com/cookie-policy) Cookie policy  (https://www.euronews.com/commercial/distribution) Distribution  (https://www.euronews.com/commercial/advertising) Advertising  (http://www.africanews.com/page/jobs/) Jobs  (http://www.africanews.com/page/apps/) Apps  (http://www.africanews.com/page/widgets/) Widgets  (http://www.euronews.com) (Euronews - Latest international news) Euronews     Monday 19/10/2026  (en) English (fr) French