Russian air defense systems intercepted hundreds of Ukrainian-launched drones targeting St. Petersburg and surrounding regions this week, coinciding with the final days of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The strikes, described by Russian officials as an unprecedented escalation, targeted key infrastructure and naval facilities near the site of the country’s premier economic gathering, effectively casting a shadow over President Vladimir Putin’s attempt to project domestic stability.
The Context of the SPIEF
Often referred to as
