The key facts

  • Leningrad Region Governor Drozdenko reported 126 drones shot down; debris damaged houses in Vsevolozhsk and Kirovsk, cars in Nizino, and caused power outages.
  • VK confirmed the attack on its data center, saying services were operating normally; monitoring services recorded an increase in complaints about VKontakte.
  • Telegram channels reported a strike on the cable-stayed bridge on the ZSD — officially unconfirmed; according to Fontanka, a section of the highway was closed.

Attack on the night of October 18

On the night of October 18, Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad Region came under a drone attack. As a result, a fire broke out at an oil terminal, and a strike was carried out on the data processing center of the company VK in the Leningrad Region.

Statements by authorities

Governor of Saint Petersburg Alexander Beglov reported fires at civilian infrastructure facilities in several districts of the city and on the territory of an oil terminal. Pulkovo airport's operations were restricted for security reasons. According to the governor, there are no casualties, but disruptions to mobile internet are possible. Governor of the Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko stated that 126 drones were shot down over the region.

Consequences of falling debris

According to Drozdenko, drone debris fell on a multi-story building in Vsevolozhsk, a private house near Kirovsk, and four cars in the village of Nizino. Due to debris falling on power lines, there were brief power outages in some places. The outlet Fontanka also reported problems with electricity supply in certain districts of Saint Petersburg.

Operation of VK services

The company VK confirmed the drone attack on its data center in the Leningrad Region and stated that its services are operating normally. At the same time, monitoring websites recorded an increase in complaints about VKontakte's operation.

Report of a strike on the ZSD bridge

Telegram channels Dnipro Osint, Astra, and Varlamov News reported that one of the drones struck the cable-stayed bridge over the Korabelny fairway on the Western High-Speed Diameter. Officials did not confirm this information. According to Fontanka, a section of the highway between Yekateringofka and the Shkipersky channel is closed.