Fire at defence facility prompts evacuation in Russia's Leningrad region

Authorities in Russia’s Leningrad region have ordered a partial evacuation in the Lomonosovsky district after a drone strike triggered a fire at a Ministry of Defence facility, regional governor Alexander Drozdenko said.

In a video address, Drozdenko said a temporary operational headquarters had been established to coordinate the response and oversee the situation on the ground. Residents living near the site of the blaze were being evacuated as a precautionary measure.

“In the Lomonosovsky district, a fire broke out at a Ministry of Defence facility. I have established a temporary operational headquarters to monitor and manage the situation in the Lomonosovsky district. A decision has been made to partially evacuate residents from the area near the fire — this measure is temporary, and I hope that within a few hours everyone will be able to return to their homes. I ask for your understanding. The situation is under control. (...) During the repelling of an unprecedented attack over the territory of our region, 144 enemy UAVs were shot down. No destruction has been recorded. Falling debris has been reported in a number of districts of the Leningrad region; the damage is minor — shrapnel impacts to building facades and windows. There are no casualties,” he said.

Earlier reports indicated that a naval cadet facility in Kronstadt may have been among the targets of the attack.

By Tamilla Hasanova