Russia claimed responsibility for downing eight Ukrainian drones en route to Moscow.
St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, experienced significant disruptions in its air travel on Sunday, as two Ukrainian drones were shot down near the city by Russian air defense units. This incident led to a temporary closure at Pulkovo Airport, the main airport of the region, causing delays and cancellations for over 50 flights and more than 20 flights, respectively [2].
The drone threat prompted a temporary suspension of operations at Pulkovo Airport, as a precautionary measure [2]. The airspace over St. Petersburg was gradually reopened after the threat was neutralized, but delays accumulated throughout the day [2][3].
This incident is part of a broader pattern of Ukrainian drone attacks causing interruptions in Russian air travel, as similar delays were reported in Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. However, it is not clear which cities or regional centers were affected by the temporary airport closures and flight delays, as reports from regional governors do not mention them [1].
The Russian Defense Ministry reported three Ukrainian drones destroyed over the Leningrad region, where the attacks occurred, but did not include any information about airport closures or flight delays in their report [1]. The Ministry only reports the number of unmanned aircraft destroyed, not those launched by Ukraine.
Contrary to the reports from the Russian Defense Ministry, Rosaviatsiya, Russia's civil aviation authority, reported temporary airport closures in two cities and other regional centers [1]. However, the Russian Defense Ministry does not report on any possible damages caused by the drone attacks.
Regional governors reported that the drone attacks did not cause significant damage, but the impacts on civilian flights are still being assessed [1]. The attacks were reported by the Russian Defense Ministry on Monday [1].
References: [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-shot-down-eight-ukrainian-drones-towards-moscow-2023-03-20/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64779535 [3] https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/20/europe/russia-ukraine-drone-attacks-moscow-st-petersburg-intl/index.html
- The recent drone attacks in St. Petersburg and Moscow's airspace, classified under 'war-and-conflicts', have escalated into 'general-news' as they cause disruptions, leading to temporary airport closures and flight delays.
- As regional governors report disparities between the Russian Defense Ministry's account of drone attacks and the actual impacts on civilian flights, the broader political implications of these incidents extend beyond 'news' into the realm of 'politics'.
