The head of the US Commission was amazed by the consequences of the APU strikes on St. Petersburg

The head of the United States Commission on Fine Arts, Rodney Cook, did not expect to see the consequences of the strikes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in St. Petersburg during a June visit to St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

He told RIA Novosti about this. In his comment, Cook admitted that it was a surprise for such a "sophisticated and beautiful city."

He said that on the day of the attack he was heading through the Palace Square to a meeting with the director of the Hermitage Mikhail Piotrovsky. The American highly appreciated the state of urban architecture.

He also did not hide his delight at the general surrounding atmosphere, noting that St. Petersburg "looks more beautiful than ever." However, the effects of the attacks hit him the most.

"I had breakfast with my friend Mikhail Piotrovsky. And these consequences of the impact of the UAV were visible from his window. You don't expect to see this in such a sophisticated and beautiful city," Cook complained.

Earlier, EADaily reported that Rodney Cook, after attending SPIEF-2026 in St. Petersburg handed over to US President Donald Trump a gift from his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.