St Petersburg PMEF 2026: Drone Attacks, VPNs and Controversial Entertainment

St Petersburg's economic forum PMEF 2026 proved disappointing: foreign participation was minimal, the city was struck by Ukrainian drone attacks, and journalists were asked not to write about parties and escort services. Foreign guests were even provided with VPN subscriptions.

St Petersburg's economic forum (PMEF) 2026 turned out to be primarily a source of hardship for local residents. Four days of the forum brought blocked streets, traffic disruptions, and Ukrainian drone attacks that hit the city precisely during this major event.

Forum Has Lost Its Former Prestige

Once, PMEF was a prestigious international platform where investors and top speakers from around the world gathered. In 2026, the picture has changed dramatically: international participants have withdrawn, and in their place have come Russian bloggers and social media influencers. The presentation of Russian robotics and the so-called advances in small and medium-sized businesses against the backdrop of an economic crisis inspired observers more with melancholy and irony than optimism.

For foreign guests, forum organizers purchased VPN subscriptions, which should have allowed them access to web services blocked in Russia. This detail speaks for itself: organisers had to actively compensate for the country's own internet restrictions in order to entice even a handful of foreign participants to attend.

Drones and Media Control

During the forum, Ukrainian drones attacked the St Petersburg region, causing additional anxiety and discomfort to residents already confined in a tightly restricted city. Meanwhile, journalists were given a clear message: do not write about parties and escort services related to the forum, so as "not to irritate the people"-a phrase used by local independent journalists in their report.

The independent journalists' cooperative "Bereg" documented how St Petersburg residents were irritated, angry, and struggling to maintain emotional equilibrium over the four days of the forum. The publication Meduza published the full report.

A Symbol of Broader Isolation

PMEF 2026 reflects Russia's broader economic and political challenges. An event once intended to demonstrate the country's attractiveness to global investors has now become primarily a domestic show, and even there, contradictions stand out between official optimism and actual circumstances.