Ukraine Launches Record 1,000-Drone Strike on St. Petersburg Amid US-Russia Sanctions Dispute
Ukraine launched its largest aerial attack of the war on October 18, 2026, sending over 1,000 drones at Russian targets. The assault set fire to the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal and other facilities, killing one person and injuring five. This strike defied US President Donald Trump's recent 'energy ceasefire' demand and waiver of sanctions on Russian diesel. President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Washington of sabotaging Ukrainian drone capabilities via Starlink restrictions and intelligence sharing pauses, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed Kyiv's actions as ineffective resistance.