MOSCOW, Russia: Russia's second-largest city, St Petersburg, and the nearby region were hit by a large Ukrainian drone attack overnight on July 4. Local officials from both Russia and Ukraine said a port and oil facilities were targeted.

These attacks are adding to fuel shortages in Russia.

St Petersburg's governor, Alexander Beglov, said the city of six million people faced a "large-scale" drone attack and that an oil terminal was hit. He added that no one was injured and the situation had been handled.

Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the nearby Leningrad region, said a drone struck the area near the port of Vysotsk, about 170 km northwest of St Petersburg on the Baltic Sea. The port handles oil, grain, coal, and liquefied natural gas.

He also said that 72 drones were shot down over the region, and there was only minor damage in a few areas. He did not give details about any damage to the Vysotsk port.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram that Ukraine's defense forces hit oil infrastructure at the port, which helps fund Russia's war. He also said they struck Kronstadt, an important military target more than 850 km from Ukraine's border.

Russia did not confirm any attack on Kronstadt, which is a major naval base near St Petersburg and was also targeted by Ukraine in June.

This year, Ukraine has increased attacks on Russia's energy facilities, causing serious damage to oil refineries and leading to petrol shortages across the country.

Russia's state news agency TASS reported that President Vladimir Putin signed new tax changes on July 4 to support the fuel market. These include incentives to produce high-quality fuel.

In the town of Gatchina in the Leningrad region, a Reuters reporter saw long lines at petrol stations on July 3, with some stations running out of fuel.

One man waiting in line, who gave his name as Gennadiy, said it was frustrating to stand in queues after work. He added that he would likely have to queue again in a few days when he runs out of fuel.

In other areas, officials in the Bryansk region and Russian-controlled Crimea said drone attacks killed one person in each place and injured several others.

Further south of St Petersburg, the governor of the Pskov region said more than 30 drones were shot down overnight. He reported minor damage and some injuries, including at a factory in the town of Velikiye Luki.