TASS reports 95 drones downed over Russia's Leningrad region
In short
TASS reported on October 18 that 95 drones had been shot down over Russia's Leningrad region, after earlier reports gave lower totals. Governor Alexander Drozdenko said air defence operations were continuing in the earlier accounts.
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Russian state news agency TASS reported at 4:43 a.m. on October 18 that 95 drones had been shot down over Leningrad region. The report followed a series of lower counts published during the night. Earlier accounts from RIA Novosti and Interfax attributed the interception figures to regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko. RIA's 3 a.m. report said air defence forces were continuing to repel the attack, while Kommersant also described the attack on the region as ongoing in its account. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 ]
The reported tally rose in stages. TASS and RIA initially reported 11 drones shot down, with Interfax carrying the same count at 3:15 a.m. RIA's 3:24 a.m. headline put the number at 17, and Kommersant's article, marked as updated at 3:38 a.m. Moscow time, also gave 17. By 3:50 a.m., RIA was reporting 57 drones downed. Interfax followed with the same figure at 3:59 a.m., citing Drozdenko. The later TASS headline raised the reported number to 95. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Kommersant said the governor had warned of a drone attack threat at approximately 1:30 a.m. Moscow time and had said mobile internet speeds might be restricted in the region. The accounts differed over airport operations. Interfax reported that Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg was neither receiving nor dispatching aircraft, citing an earlier announcement by Russia's aviation authority. Kommersant, however, said Pulkovo's operations had not been interrupted. The supplied accounts do not resolve that difference. [ 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The governor warned that mobile internet speeds could be restricted during the drone threat, according to Kommersant. Reports disagreed about whether St Petersburg's Pulkovo airport had suspended flights.
Key facts
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Pulkovo airport suspended flights during the attack. Interfax cited aviation authorities saying it was not receiving or dispatching aircraft, while Kommersant said operations had not been interrupted.