In the Leningrad Region, a threat of attack by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the airspace has been declared, the region's governor, Alexander Drozdenko, reported on his Telegram channel. To counter the threat, the air defense forces of the Russian Defense Ministry were deployed, and in a number of areas of the region, the mobile signal was partially reduced from 4G to 2G, which is associated with measures to suppress drone control signals. As a result of the attack, Pulkovo Airport temporarily suspended services, which led to significant disruptions to the schedule. Sources also report military aircraft flying over the region, presumably to track and intercept drones.

The drone attack had serious consequences for the operation of Pulkovo Airport. Passengers who found themselves in the terminal complained of a lack of information and long waits, with some spending more than 10 hours at the airport.

The 2G mobile phone limitation that Drozdenko warned about has caused internet and phone outages in several areas of the region. Downdetector recorded a spike in connection complaints after 5:00 a.m., especially in St. Petersburg and the surrounding areas. Similar measures, including jamming signals with electronic warfare (EW), are becoming standard practice in repelling UAV attacks to make it more difficult to control the drones.

The military flights reported by sources are likely related to increased efforts to detect drones. As Forbes noted, low-altitude UAVs pose a challenge to traditional air defense systems due to interference and low visibility, which requires the use of aircraft for patrols.