As Russia faces setbacks in Ukraine, analysts fear Vladimir Putin may escalate the conflict rather than capitulate. Potential reactions range from cyberattacks and sabotage to nuclear threats, as Ukraine gains ground and Russian influence campaigns expand.
Ukrainian drone attacks on St Petersburg overshadowed Russia's International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2026), where President Putin remained uncompromising on the war with Ukraine, claiming economic stability despite evident pressures.
Ukraine launches unprecedented drone attack on St Petersburg, hitting Russian arsenals and naval base
Vladimir Putin rejects Volodymyr Zelenskyy's offer for a face-to-face meeting, vowing to achieve Russia's war goals in Ukraine, including full control of the Donbas region.
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud met his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak in St Petersburg to discuss global energy market stability. Both acknowledged increased uncertainty in demand due to ongoing conflicts and disruptions, with Russia also reporting a decline in oil production due to refinery maintenance.
Notable US figures, including Rodney Mims Cook Jr. and influencers Candace Owens and Andrew Tate, are attending Russia's St Petersburg Economic Forum. This comes as Russia faces pressure to curb defense spending for the Ukraine war, despite the forum attracting guests drawn to Moscow's 'anti-woke' stance.
EU's Kaja Kallas stated Ukrainian drone strikes deep inside Russia are causing "panic" in the Kremlin, leading Moscow to increase attacks on Kyiv. Ukrainian drones hit energy and military sites in St Petersburg, prompting President Zelensky to call the strikes "fair" retaliation.
Notable Americans, including Rodney Mims Cook Jr., Candace Owens, and Steven Seagal, are attending Russia's St Petersburg Economic Forum. The event occurs as Russia faces pressure over its war spending and economic isolation, with some attendees promoting "anti-woke" and "traditional values."
The St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) begins in Russia with 20,000 guests from over 130 countries. Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and Western sanctions, the forum aims to showcase Russia's global partnerships, particularly with the Global South, and attract foreign investment.
Russia claims a drone strike killed eight and injured 10 on a bus in occupied Ukraine. Ukraine denies commenting on 'aggressor state' claims. Meanwhile, St Petersburg's oil terminal was hit by a drone, with Ukraine calling it 'long-range sanctions'. This follows a massive Russian assault on Ukraine.
Ukraine launched deep drone strikes on St Petersburg, hitting an oil terminal and naval base, coinciding with the SPIEF economic forum. Russia accused Ukraine of a separate deadly bus strike in Donetsk. The attacks escalate the tit-for-tat campaign.
Ukrainian drones targeted a warship and an oil terminal near St Petersburg on Wednesday, hours before a major economic forum. The Boikiy corvette was reportedly hit in dry dock, causing a large fire, while infrastructure objects were struck in three districts.
Ukraine launched drone attacks on an oil export terminal and a military facility in St Petersburg, Russia, on Wednesday. The strikes occurred hours before President Putin's annual economic forum. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also made an unannounced visit to Kyiv.
Ukraine launched drone attacks on an oil export terminal and a military facility in St Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, hours before President Putin's economic forum. Russia reported downing 59 drones and vowed retaliation, while also accusing Ukraine of a deadly bus attack in Donetsk.
Ukrainian drones targeted energy and military sites in St Petersburg, Russia, including an oil terminal and naval base, hours before the city's economic forum. The strikes, described by Ukraine as "long-range sanctions," occurred despite Russian air defense efforts and caused significant disruption, including the temporary closure of the city's airport.
Ukrainian drones targeted energy and military sites in St. Petersburg, including the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal and Kronstadt military base, early Wednesday. The attacks occurred as the city hosts the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, with Governor Alexander Beglov confirming damage to infrastructure but no fatalities. President Zelensky stated the strikes are part of Ukraine's "long-range sanctions" plan.
Ukrainian drones targeted energy and military sites in St. Petersburg, including an oil terminal and a military base, early Wednesday. The attacks occurred as Russia hosts the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an event attracting thousands of international guests.
As communities push for publicly owned electricity, private utilities may be deploying dark money and local front groups to stop themThe utility industry is quietly dispatching a network of front groups to thwart the growing push for public power across the US – a push that comes amid mounting frustration over sky-high utility bills, electric outages, a slow transition to clean energy and private utilities’ soaring profits.Communities from Ann Arbor, Michigan to San Diego, California and St Petersburg, Florida are exploring municipalizing their grids to join the country’s approximately 2,000 public power companies. Continue reading...
Trump convened his national security team to evaluate an Iranian peace proposal delivered through Pakistan, seeking to end the Middle East crisis and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal offers to reopen the strategic shipping lane in exchange for lifting the US blockade of Iranian ports and ending the war, with nuclear negotiations deferred. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt declined to specify Trump's position but stated his red lines have been clearly communicated to Iran.
US President Donald Trump is evaluating an Iranian peace proposal delivered via Pakistan, aimed at ending the months-long Middle East crisis and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal calls for reopening the narrow Persian Gulf shipping lane in exchange for lifting the US blockade of Iranian ports and ending the war, with nuclear talks deferred to a later stage. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt declined to say how Trump views the proposition, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the offer in a Fox News interview.
