Russia’s Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg has temporarily halted flight arrivals and departures to protect civilian aircraft safety, according to Rosaviatsia, Russia’s aviation regulatory agency.
It did not indicate why planes were halted, but Russian airports have been shuttered when there is a threat of Ukrainian drone strikes in the vicinity.
Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the northern Leningrad area that includes St. Petersburg, claimed Russian military 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.”
