Zelenskyy says Ukrainian drones struck Russian naval arsenals and Kronstadt base 1,000km from border

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian drones struck Russian naval facilities in the St Petersburg region overnight, including military arsenals and the Kronstadt naval base, in an operation that reached targets roughly 1,000 kilometres from Ukraine's border.

"It is time for this war to end. However, Russia's leader wants to keep fighting. Last night, our drones covered approximately 1,000 kilometres to reach the St Petersburg region — enemy naval arsenals and the base in Kronstadt," Zelenskyy said.

He said the operation was carried out through joint efforts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR).

"The results of this cooperation are significant. Russia must end this war and stop attacking human lives. Every act of injustice against Ukraine will receive a just response," Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine's Special Operations Forces later confirmed that several drones had successfully reached their targets and reported a fire at the naval facility.

In a statement, the military described Kronstadt as a key element of Russia's naval infrastructure and a strategic component of the country's military capabilities.

The Ukrainian military said the importance of the base had increased after Ukraine degraded part of Russia's naval capabilities in the Black Sea during the course of the war.

"Now it is the turn of one of Russia's oldest naval bases to burn," the statement added.