ISW: Ukrainian Forces Strike St. Petersburg, Shattering Russia's Illusion of Stability
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) released a report stating that, following the conclusion of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Ukrainian defense forces launched a second round of attacks on the city on June 6.
Analysis indicates that despite Russia’s deliberate reinforcement of air defense systems in the region ahead of this major international event, it still failed to prevent the assault—once again exposing Russia’s persistent inability to effectively safeguard large urban centers against Ukrainian strikes.
The report notes that the Kremlin is now placing greater emphasis on security around Moscow’s International Business Center. Satellite imagery released on June 6 shows Russian forces have installed the "Korund-SMD-E" air defense system on high-rise buildings in this area.
The report emphasizes that Ukraine’s consecutive attacks have completely undermined Russia’s attempt to use the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum to project an image of domestic stability both domestically and internationally. For years, Russia has leveraged this forum to showcase its economic strength and great-power status to the global community. However, the attacks on St. Petersburg on June 3 and June 6 directly shattered this carefully constructed narrative. President Putin, in his public speeches, deliberately avoided addressing real issues such as air defense vulnerabilities, economic hardships, and frontline military developments, attempting instead to paint an optimistic picture. Yet Ukraine’s sustained long-range strikes continue to bring the war deep into Russian territory, rendering such rhetoric self-defeating.
Previously, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine’s armed forces have struck multiple key targets in and around St. Petersburg, including drone attacks on Russian Navy arsenals and the Kronstadt military base. He emphasized that Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine is the root cause of these attacks and called on Russia to end the conflict.
Media reports indicate that Ukrainian drones hit the Russian naval vessel “Agile” (also known as “Sovremenny-class”) light frigate at Kronstadt, with satellite images showing the ship engulfed in flames after the strike. Analysts suggest the vessel is now essentially non-operational: fire damage combined with extensive water exposure from firefighting efforts has significantly weakened the hull’s metal structure and accelerated corrosion, making repairs extremely difficult—and nearly impossible to restore to operational condition.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867342930820364/
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