Attack on an Oil Terminal: Expert Explains How the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Began

Political analyst and serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Musiienko, commented on the Defense Forces’ strike against an oil terminal in St. Petersburg and explained the scale of the damage—both material and reputational, reports Politeka.

He discussed the issue on his blog.

“This is one of Russia’s largest petroleum product transshipment terminals in the Baltic region. It is highly modernized and specializes in handling oil shipments for subsequent export via Russia’s shadow fleet through the Baltic Sea. The facility has 21 storage tanks for both light and dark petroleum products. Its annual throughput capacity is 12.5 million tons. This enterprise has been designated as strategically important to Russia’s national security,” Oleksandr Musiienko said.

He emphasized that this attack is not the end of the story and that further strikes are likely, as the strategy behind Ukraine’s deep-strike operations is to hit the same targets multiple times, preventing them from being fully restored. In other words, the expert noted, as soon as a facility is repaired, it is struck again, causing additional losses.

“And on this very day, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum begins, with foreign business representatives expected to attend. I believe no one should travel there, and those who have already arrived should turn around and go back, because St. Petersburg is becoming dangerous, and it will certainly remain dangerous in the coming days. I understand and assume that Ukraine’s Defense Forces may be preparing another phase of attacks. Friday, June 5, is particularly important because Putin is scheduled to speak at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum on that day,” Oleksandr Musiienko commented.

Overall, the expert noted, this is a highly significant and symbolic strike: a major oil transshipment complex—one of the largest in the Baltic region—is burning in Putin’s hometown. According to him, the attack also affects the population’s morale and psychological state, as the war has now reached them.