Vladimir Putin says Russia will bolster air defences after Ukraine drone attacks

A plume of black smoke over the port of St Petersburg on Wednesday (AP)

President Vladimir Putin has said Russia will strengthen its air defences to counter recent Ukrainian drone attacks, which have reached deep inside his country.

Speaking in response to a question from The Associated Press during a meeting with heads of international news agencies, Mr Putin acknowledged the damage from Ukrainian drone attacks, and vowed to bolster its air defences to respond to them.

Hours before the opening of an international economic forum in St Petersburg on Wednesday, a Ukrainian drone attack set ablaze an oil terminal in the city and also hit a naval base just outside Mr Putin’s home town.