St. Petersburg's Forum Opens Under a Cloud of Smoke

The Kremlin's annual economic spectacle in St. Petersburg, once a stage for global leaders, has opened to a rather more dramatic backdrop than planned. Instead of headlines about investment and international partnership, the city was greeted by columns of black smoke billowing from a burning oil terminal. This was not an industrial accident, but a message delivered by long-range Ukrainian drones.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum was conceived as Russia’s answer to Davos, a showcase of its economic might and openness to the world. Before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it attracted a veritable who's who of Western CEOs and heads of state. This year’s guest list tells a different story about Russia's place in the world. A low-key American delegation is present, led by an official overseeing a White House ballroom project for Donald Trump. He is joined by a right-wing commentator and an actor known for his steadfast support of the Russian president.

While this curated audience gathered, Ukraine demonstrated its expanding reach. The attacks targeted not only oil storage facilities but also, it seems, the very heart of Russian naval power in the region. Unverified videos circulated by Ukrainian military figures showed drones closing in on docked warships in Kronstadt, the main base of the Baltic Fleet. The commander of Ukraine's unmanned systems, Robert Brovdi, subsequently claimed that the corvette Boikiy had been struck.

The timing is hardly a coincidence. The strikes are a calculated act of political theatre, designed to embarrass the Kremlin at a moment of self-congratulation. One representative from a Ukrainian defence firm wryly noted on social media that his company simply couldn't ignore such a distinguished gathering of guests and felt compelled to 'fly to' the event. The message is clear: while Russia hosts forums to discuss its economic future, Ukraine is actively dismantling the assets that fuel its war machine. One has to wonder what the topic of conversation is at a summit held under the shadow of enemy drones.

Written by Christiane Hofreiter christiane.hofreiter@alpineweekly.com