Saint Petersburg, Russia
Pulkovo Airport and its surrounding areas experienced significant disruptions on Saturday due to the escalating threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Dozens of flights, including international services, faced either delays or cancellations. Concurrently, residents across several city districts reported considerable issues with mobile internet services.
Flight Disruptions and Communication Warnings
The Northwestern Transport Prosecutor`s Office confirmed that approximately 40 flights, both arriving and departing from Pulkovo, were affected by the imposed restrictions. The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) had earlier implemented temporary operational limitations at the St. Petersburg airport following warnings from Leningrad Region authorities about potential drone activity. Among the delayed international flights were those bound for Baku, Yerevan, and Batumi, with three flights ultimately canceled. The St. Petersburg Committee for Informatization and Communications also issued a public alert regarding a possible degradation in mobile internet and overall communication quality.
Mobile Internet Outage Confirmed
Sergey Korunny, Editor of Neva Today:
“As of early afternoon, as I personally verified, mobile internet access in the city center is unavailable; one can only get online via Wi-Fi. According to Pulkovo Airport`s information board, approximately 50 arriving flights and 30 departing flights are delayed. The city`s transport committee, in turn, announced that due to the lack of mobile internet, paid parking in the city center can only be settled via SMS or a parking account. I am currently in the Admiralty District of St. Petersburg, connected to Wi-Fi. If I disconnect, my phone shows four or five signal bars, yet there`s no 4G or stronger access whatsoever in principle; internet access is exclusively through Wi-Fi.”
Drone Interceptions and Public Impact
Governor Alexander Beglov reported the successful suppression of two drones: one in the Pushkinsky district and another subsequently in the Krasnoselsky district. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, the incidents were not without public impact. Yulia, a resident of the Krasnoselsky district, shared with Business FM that she heard a powerful explosion. She observed that windows on the 3rd and 6th floors of nearby buildings were blown out, and emergency services were actively working at the scene. Another resident from the same district, Nadezhda, informed Business FM about a “pop” sound heard by her husband at home, which was quickly followed by an influx of messages in neighborhood chat groups featuring photos of broken windows and the arrival of emergency vehicles. Governor Drozdenko of the Leningrad Region also confirmed a drone interception in the Tosnensky district, reporting no damage or casualties from that incident.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth