Over ten drones were shot down above the Leningrad region, with their debris found in several areas, including Gatchina and Primorsk. Pulkovo Airport implemented a “Carpet” plan, leading to over a hundred flights being delayed or cancelled. Additionally, the Navy Day parade was called off.
Last updated: 15:33
More than a dozen drones were intercepted over the Leningrad region, as confirmed by Governor Alexander Drozdenko. Debris from these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) was reported in Gatchina, Voiskovitsy settlement, Kingiseppsky district, and the industrial zone of Primorsk. In the Lomonosovsky district, falling drone fragments ignited a fire in a residential area, which has since been contained. Air defense sounds were heard in other districts, with residents of Volosovo, Yanino, Bornits, and Novoye Devyatkino reporting explosions in the sky.
In the early morning, Pulkovo Airport was closed for five hours due to the drone attack. This resulted in over 100 flights being delayed, with some being cancelled outright. Approximately 20 flights were rerouted to alternative airports because of the imposed restrictions.
Amidst these disruptions, Russian Railways (RZD) added extra seats on “Sapsan” high-speed trains for today and tomorrow, and additional long-distance trains were scheduled between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Currently, St. Petersburg`s airport has resumed both arrivals and departures.
Petr Sleptkov, a passenger stranded at Pulkovo who was supposed to fly from St. Petersburg to Orenburg via Moscow, shared his experience:
“Since noon, planes were allowed back into the sky, the first flights departed, so now everything is fine. I believe by the end of the day, all airports will manage the unexpectedly large flow of waiting passengers, and all will be well. Regarding Pulkovo: I didn`t hear a single complaint, nor did I see a single nervous person expressing indignation, even though some, like me, missed connecting flights and had to fly to a different city at a different time, incurring costs that, of course, no one will cover. No, no one said anything was wrong — everyone understood. The airport services worked wonderfully; it was very tiring for the waiters who were distributing food. It`s worth noting that the airport announced free food and drinks were available at several restaurants within the airport, so no one went hungry or felt wronged — everyone simply understood. I even think the airport`s cleaning services benefited, because every corner that might have previously had dust or dirt is now clean — people were sitting everywhere.”
Petr sent photos from Pulkovo to the editorial office. The situation at the airport can be seen in footage on the BFMnews Telegram channel.
On Friday, St. Petersburg authorities announced the cancellation of the main naval parade for Navy Day, which was scheduled for this Sunday. Last year, the parade took place. Shortly after the initial announcement, local authorities removed the cancellation notice without clarifying whether the parade would proceed. Today, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed the parade`s cancellation, attributing it to the “general situation” and “security considerations.” He emphasized, “Safety is paramount.”
Local authorities assert that the Leningrad region experienced its largest drone attack since the start of the special military operation. Sergey Korunny, editor of the online newspaper Neva Today, commented on the situation:
Sergey Korunny, Editor of Neva Today online newspaper:
“Information about the drone attack over the Leningrad region emerged around six in the morning. According to Governor Alexander Drozdenko`s Telegram channel, more than ten UAVs were shot down over the region. Falling debris caused fires, and several individuals sustained injuries, primarily bruises and cuts, for which they are receiving assistance. Regional authorities stated that compensation would be paid to all whose property was damaged. Following the drone attack, mobile internet in the region and St. Petersburg was either slowed down or disconnected, as reported by the city`s Committee for Informatization and Communications. Based on my observations, as of 11 AM, mobile internet was unavailable in the city center — access to the network was only possible via Wi-Fi. According to Pulkovo Airport`s online schedule, flight delays for departures began around six in the morning, and by 11 AM, the number of delayed flights amounted to dozens.”
Pskov region and Nizhny Novgorod also faced significant drone attacks today. Seven drones were shot down over the Pskov region, and temporary restrictions were imposed at Nizhny Novgorod Airport.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth