Temporary restrictions on St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport lifted
MOSCOW – Temporary flight restrictions imposed at Russia’s Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg on Saturday were lifted at 10:15 a.m. (0715 GMT), a representative of Russia’s aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said.
The airport temporarily halted flight arrivals and departures from 7:45 a.m. (0445 GMT) to ensure the safety of civilian aircraft, the source added.
Rosaviatsia did not specify a reason for the decision to halt flights, but Russian airports have previously closed when there is a risk of Ukrainian drone strikes in the area.
Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the northern Leningrad region containing St. Petersburg, said Russian forces had shot down two drones near Luga Bay in the Gulf of Finland.
“The airport is temporarily not accepting or dispatching flights,” a Rosaviatsia representative wrote on the Telegram messaging app. “Aircraft crews, air traffic controllers, and airport services are taking all necessary measures to ensure flight safety – this is the top priority.”
On the other hand, the Ukrainian air force said it downed 34 out of 81 drones launched by Russia overnight, adding that 47 drones were “lost,” in reference to Ukraine’s use of electronic warfare to redirect Russian drones.
