On the evening of December 12, at about 22:00 p.m., the Leningrad Region air defense forces shot down a reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle in the area of ​​the Vysotsk LUKOIL-II distribution transshipment complex, which specializes in the shipment of petroleum products. According to the Baza Telegram channel, the downed drone presumably belongs to the Baba Yaga type, a large Ukrainian drone capable of carrying a significant combat load.

The debris fell into the Gulf of Finland, making it difficult to quickly study it. No one was hurt in the incident, but the port was temporarily closed to ensure safety and conduct necessary checks.

Baba Yaga-type drones are large hexacopters, originally designed for agricultural purposes, but refitted by the Ukrainian military for combat missions. They are capable of lifting up to 20 kg of explosives and are equipped with thermal imaging cameras, which allows them to operate effectively at night. The speed of such drones reaches 40 km/h with a full load and up to 80 km/h without it, with a flight altitude of up to 400 meters and a range of up to 10 km.

Earlier, on March 12, 2024, in the vicinity of the city of Kirishi in the Leningrad Region, air defense systems also destroyed an aircraft-type drone as it approached the Kirishinefteorgsintez (KINEF) oil refinery. At that time, the region's governor, Alexander Drozdenko, reported that the plant continued to operate as normal, and there were no casualties or damage.

At this time, the authorities have not provided any additional information about the origin of the drone shot down on December 12 or its possible targets. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The origin of the drone itself raises many questions. The latter has a limited flight range and could not have been launched from Ukrainian territory.