---
title: "Massive Drone Attack Hits Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Leningrad Region: Oil Terminal Likely Damaged"
description: "On the night of October 18, drones massively attacked Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Leningrad region. Monitoring data suggests an oil terminal was likely hit; flight restrictions were imposed at three airports."
date: 2026-10-18T01:06:26.795Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/massive-drone-attack-moscow-st-petersburg
tags: [drone-attacks, moscow, st-petersburg, air-defense, ukraine-russia-war, airport-closures]
author: "Roman V."
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Massive Drone Attack Hits Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Leningrad Region: Oil Terminal Likely Damaged

![Fire crews and a fire truck operating at the scene of a nighttime emergency in Russia](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/18/drony-atakovali-moskvu-peterburg-i-lenoblast/drony-atakovali-moskvu-peterburg-i-lenoblast-1.webp)

## Key Points

- On the night of October 18, drones attacked Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Leningrad Region.
- According to Exilenova+, an oil terminal where a tank is burning was likely hit.
- Drozdenko reported 57 downed UAVs in the Leningrad region, while Sobyanin reported 87 in Moscow by 3:00 AM.
- Rosaviatsiya restricted flights at two Moscow airports and Pulkovo; SMS alert failures were recorded in St. Petersburg.

On the night of October 18, drones launched a massive attack on Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Leningrad Region. According to the Exilenova+ monitoring channel, cited by RBC-Ukraine, an oil fuel terminal was likely hit during the attack, causing a fuel tank to catch fire. The Russian air defense system, according to the same sources, operated intensively with recorded missile launches.

### Official Data on Shot-Down Drones

Leningrad Region Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported 57 downed drones. According to him, in the village of Nizina, Lomonosov District, debris damaged four parked cars, triggering a fire. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who had been reporting on intercepted drones since 11:00 PM, stated by 3:00 AM that 87 drones had been downed. He reported no damage or casualties, noting only that emergency services were operating at the debris impact sites. Explosions were also reported in the Moscow region.

### Airport Restrictions and Notification Failures

Due to the attack, Rosaviatsiya restricted aircraft arrivals and departures at two Moscow airports and St. Petersburg's Pulkovo. Meanwhile, residents of St. Petersburg did not receive SMS alerts regarding the drone threat, and some received them with a significant delay.

### Context: Series of Nighttime Strikes on the Capital

Moscow has been targeted by massive drone attacks for several nights in a row. On the night of October 14, according to the Defense Forces, hundreds of drones were directed at the capital in one of the largest-scale attacks. On October 16, due to a strike by about 50 drones, restrictions were simultaneously introduced at four Moscow hub airports: Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky. The following night, three of them halted operations again, although Sobyanin did not report any drone threats at the time.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Дроны атаковали Санкт-Петербург, вероятно, поражен нефтеналивной порт](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/droni-atakuvali-sankt-peterburg-ymovirno-1792285271.html) - Primary source: attack on Moscow, St. Petersburg, Leningrad region; figures of intercepted UAVs according to statements by Sobyanin (87) and Drozdenko (57); airport restrictions; damage to 4 cars in Nizina; SMS failures. Damage to the oil terminal is 'probable' according to Exilenova+.
- [Дроны атаковали Петербург в день открытия экономического форума. 1561-й день войны](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0/20260603-%D0%B4%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%8B-%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B1%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B3-%D0%B2-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C-%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BA%D1%80%D1%8B%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D1%8D%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B0-1561-%D0%B9-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C-%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B9%D0%BD%D1%8B) - Подтверждено по источнику rfi.fr
- [Россию массово атаковали дроны: поражен один из крупнейших НПЗ и военный завод (фото)](https://www.unian.net/war/udary-po-rossii-porazhen-npz-i-voennyy-zavod-13509369.html) - Подтверждено по источнику unian.net
- [Россию атаковали дроны: поражен один из крупнейших НПЗ и заводы](https://delo.ua/ru/news/rossiyu-atakovali-drony-porazen-odin-iz-krupneisix-npz-i-zavody-473192/) - Подтверждено по источнику delo.ua

## FAQ

### Which cities were attacked by drones on the night of October 18?

According to RBC-Ukraine citing Exilenova+, a massive drone attack hit Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Leningrad Region.

### How many drones were officially reported shot down?

Leningrad Region Governor Alexander Drozdenko reported 57 downed UAVs, and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed 87 drones by 3:00 AM.

### Which airports faced restrictions?

Rosaviatsiya restricted aircraft arrivals and departures at two Moscow airports and St. Petersburg's Pulkovo.