Ukraine has carried out one of its biggest long-range drone attacks of the war, targeting the Russian city of St Petersburg and surrounding areas. Russian authorities described the attack as "unprecedented" and said more than 140 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over the Leningrad region. The attack happened while St Petersburg was hosting the final day of Russia's annual economic forum, one of the country's most important business events. For the first time since the war began, city officials urged residents to stay indoors because of security concerns. Russian Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said air defense systems were activated throughout the region to stop the incoming drones. Authorities reported that most of the drones were shot down before reaching their targets, but the attack still caused alarm among residents. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation was aimed at military targets. According to him, Ukrainian drones traveled around 1,000 kilometers to strike Russian naval facilities and weapons storage sites in the St Petersburg region. He specifically mentioned a naval base in Kronstadt and military arsenals used by Russian forces. Zelensky also said Ukrainian forces targeted an oil depot in Russia's Krasnodar region, hundreds of kilometers from the Ukrainian border. He described the attacks as a justified response to Russian missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities. The latest operation highlights Ukraine's growing ability to carry out long-range drone missions deep inside Russian territory. Over the past year, Ukraine has increasingly relied on drones to attack military infrastructure, fuel depots, air bases, and logistics centers far from the front lines. The attack comes during a period of increasing tensions between Moscow and Kyiv. Just days earlier, President Zelensky publicly called for direct face-to-face talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to end the war. In an open letter, Zelensky argued that it was time to seek a diplomatic solution and warned against waiting for international attention to return to the conflict. He said both countries should work toward ending the war and reducing further loss of life. However, Putin rejected the proposal. Speaking at the economic forum in St Petersburg, the Russian president said there was no point in meeting Zelensky at this stage. He maintained that peace negotiations should come before any ceasefire agreement. Putin repeated Russia's long-standing demands, including Ukrainian withdrawal from the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Russia also continues to oppose Ukraine's efforts to join NATO. Meanwhile, fighting continues in occupied areas of eastern Ukraine. Authorities in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region have suspended bus services on two major highways because of Ukrainian drone attacks. Officials said the restrictions were necessary for security reasons. Local authorities also halted commuter train services and limited transportation of groups of children due to concerns about further strikes. Ukrainian drone operations have increasingly focused on disrupting Russian military supply routes and fuel deliveries. Military analysts say Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian logistics networks in recent weeks. Reports indicate that hundreds of military and fuel vehicles have been damaged or destroyed since early May, making it harder for Russian forces to move supplies and equipment. The drone attacks show how both sides continue to expand the use of unmanned aircraft in the conflict. Drones have become one of the most important weapons in the war, allowing both Russia and Ukraine to strike targets far beyond the battlefield. As peace efforts remain stalled, the latest attack demonstrates that neither side is backing down. Ukraine says it will continue targeting military infrastructure inside Russia, while Moscow insists it will continue military operations until its objectives are achieved. With no breakthrough in negotiations and attacks increasing on both sides, the war remains locked in a difficult and dangerous phase. Civilians in both Ukraine and Russia continue to face the consequences as the conflict enters another year with no clear end in sight.