Ukrainian drones hit Russia’s Ust-Luga port; Pulkovo airport closes, two killed in Smolensk region

Ukrainian drones attacked Russia’s Leningrad region overnight on 11 November, targeting the port zone of Ust-Luga in the Kingisepp district, Governor Alexander Drozdenko said, as reported by Meduza. He said 150 drones were shot down over the region; several hit the port area, starting a fire and injuring three port workers, and a transformer substation in Ust-Luga shut down in an emergency.

Flights diverted

The attack forced the temporary closure of St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport. Passenger flights from Istanbul and Hurghada landed in Helsinki instead, and 30 departures were delayed by morning. Warnings of a possible airspace threat were issued in parts of Latvia and in Lithuania.

Smolensk and unconfirmed losses

In the Smolensk region, Governor Vasily Anokhin said 37 drones were shot down; in the town of Yartsevo, what he called “debris” hit an apartment building, causing a fire in which two people died. Pro-war Russian Telegram channels, including Fighterbomber, reported that pilots were killed during the air defence of the St. Petersburg area, posting a photo of a Ka-52 helicopter; Russian authorities have not confirmed this.

The strikes came as Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone attacks during the Abu Dhabi talks, RFE/RL reported. Ust-Luga is one of Russia’s main Baltic oil and fuel export ports.