Russia’s Leningrad Region Faces Unprecedented Drone Assaults

(MENAFN) Russia’s Leningrad region experiences its most severe wave of drone attacks to date, with over 240 unmanned aerial vehicles intercepted in the past week, regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported Saturday.

Drozdenko said the most intense strike occurred Monday, when 70 drones were neutralized in a single day. Over the past 24 hours, 36 more were downed.

“Since March 22, the region has been on heightened alert, repelling unprecedented attacks by enemy UAVs,” he wrote on Russian social media platform Max, noting that emergency services continue to operate around the clock.

Some drones hit infrastructure and transport facilities, causing minor damage, while the primary target was the port of Ust-Luga, a crucial hub for Russia’s energy exports. The port was again struck overnight, igniting a fire that rescue teams worked to extinguish, Drozdenko added.

Repeated temporary restrictions at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg led to 117 flight cancellations and 211 delays, he said. Drozdenko advised residents to follow safety rules during air raid alerts, including avoiding unnecessary travel, staying away from windows, and refraining from approaching drone debris or filming air defense operations.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin also reported on Max that the capital came under drone attack, with emergency services responding at the crash site.

Elsewhere, Russia’s Belgorod region saw one fatality from Ukrainian shelling, while Samara authorities reported an industrial facility in Tolyatti was struck.

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