Russia claims interception of 146 drones in Leningrad region
Quick Look
Russia says it shot down 146 drones over the Leningrad region northwest of Moscow as counter-action continues, following a Ukrainian drone strike on an oil refinery in Kirishi that killed a woman and a fire in Ust-Luga's port area; the attacks coincide with US-mediated Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi and Baltic states warning residents to seek shelter over drone airspace violations.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Russia reports downing 146 drones over the Leningrad region northwest of Moscow as counter-action continues. A Ukrainian drone struck Russia's second-largest oil refinery in Kirishi, killing a woman, and a drone attack caused a fire in Ust-Luga's port area by the Baltic Sea. The attacks coincide with US-mediated Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi entering their second day. TASS also reported Ukrainian artillery fire on Ukraine's Moscow-occupied Donetsk region, wounding three civilians. Latvia and Lithuania warned residents to seek shelter over unidentified drone airspace violations via Russia or Belarus, activating NATO air defence and fighter jets.
Russia has said it has shot down more than 140 drones in an ongoing attack on the country's Leningrad region northwest of Moscow.
"A total of 146 drones have been downed over the Leningrad Region," Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said on Telegram on Tuesday, Russia's state TASS news agency reported, adding that "the counter-action is ongoing".
It is unclear where the drones came from, but on Monday, a Ukrainian drone struck Russia's second-largest oil refinery in Kirishi, also in the Leningrad region, according to the Reuters news agency. Local authorities said a woman had been killed in the attack.
A drone attack also caused a fire in the port area of Ust-Luga by the Baltic Sea in the province, Drozdenko said on Telegram on Wednesday.
The escalation comes as US-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), entered their second and final day on Wednesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the first day of talks was "constructive and quite substantive".
The attacks in Russia also came as TASS reported that Ukrainian forces had fired at least 31 artillery shells on Ukraine's Moscow-occupied Donetsk region in 24 hours, wounding three civilians.
Of these attacks, 23 occurred in the Horlivka area, where a couple was also wounded in a drone strike on a vehicle, according to TASS.
Attacks were also reported in Zelenskyy's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian officials said on Telegram.
Following the escalation, Latvia and Lithuania warned residents to seek shelter against the threats posed by unidentified drones entering their airspace via Russia or Belarus.
The Baltic states said NATO air defence and fighter jets were activated as a result of the airspace violations.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Counter-action against drones over Leningrad region will continue
Very likely · Within hours
NATO air defence and fighter jets will remain activated in Baltic states
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- Where did the drones over Leningrad region originate?
- What is the status of the counter-action against the drones?
- What were the outcomes of the Abu Dhabi peace talks?
- Were there casualties from the drone attacks in Ust-Luga?
