A massive Ukrainian drone barrage forced people in St. Petersburg to run for shelter, as Kyiv warned Saturday that the intensity of strikes deep inside the heart of Russia “will continue to grow” after strongman Vladimir Putin snubbed peace talks.

Mr Putin on Friday rejected a proposal by Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a face-to-face meeting on the 4-year-old conflict, saying he saw "no point" in it. Responding to Mr Putin's dismissal of the proposed meeting, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Saturday that things would "only get worse for Russia".

A Ukrainian drone attack hit an oil terminal in St Petersburg hours before the city hosted an international economic forum.

By Vladimir Soldatkin and Andrew Osborn ST PETERSBURG, Russia, June 5 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he currently saw no reason to meet Volodymyr Zelenskiy after the Ukrainian president published an open letter proposing they hold face-to-face talks to agree an end to a war now in its fifth year.

Ukraine launched a drone barrage at St. Petersburg on Saturday, the final day of a major investment forum, hours after President Vladimir Putin spoke there and refused a proposal for talks with Kyiv.

A drone attack launched by Ukraine hit St. Petersburg, Russia, overnight as Russian President Vladimir Putin wraps up an economic forum there.

President Vladimir Putin says Russia will strengthen its air defenses to counter recent Ukrainian drone attacks, which have reached deep inside his country and cast a cloud over his showcase economic forum in his hometown of St.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, June 4 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on Thursday about the Ukraine war, compromises on peace agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump and whether or not he would stay in power until 2036.

Residents of St. Petersburg have been told to stay indoors after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted the city.