• Ukrainian drones targeted St. Petersburg, affecting Navy Day celebrations.
• Russian air defenses reported downing 291 drones during the attack.
• The naval parade was canceled due to security concerns, marking a scaled-down celebration.
• A woman was injured by drone debris in the Leningrad region.
• Putin affirmed Russia's commitment to enhancing naval capabilities despite ongoing threats.

Ukrainian drones targeted St. Petersburg on Sunday, forcing a temporary airport closure as President Vladimir Putin marked Navy Day in the city. This year’s traditional naval parade was canceled due to security concerns, which followed last year’s threats of similar attacks according to local state television, highlighting ongoing tensions between the nations, according to Reuters and Dawn.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that air defenses managed to down 291 drones during the day’s incidents, a contrast to the record 524 downed during a previous attack in May. Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, reported that falling debris from the drones injured a woman, asserting that over ten drones were intercepted in the area, according to Africanews and SCMP.

The cancellations extended beyond St. Petersburg, affecting celebrations in the Kaliningrad region and Vladivostok. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that “it’s linked to the overall situation, security reasons,” emphasizing the Kremlin’s concerns over the continuing drone threats. In a show of military strength, Putin conducted reviews of naval drills involving around 150 warships across multiple oceans, reinforcing Russia's commitment to enhancing its naval capabilities, as stated by India Times and Africanews.