More Than 400 Russians Stranded In Minsk After Drone Attack On St Petersburg

Reform.news Editorial Team · 18 October 2026, 16:58

https://reform.news/en/more-than-400-russians-stranded-in-minsk-after-drone-attack-on-st-petersburg/

Two Turkish Airlines charter flights travelling from Antalya to St Petersburg were diverted to Minsk due to restrictions on operations at Russian airports. According to the Russian Embassy in Belarus, more than 400 Russian citizens are on board.

“The embassy has been monitoring the situation from the outset. Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov and embassy staff are at Minsk National Airport, providing our citizens with all the necessary assistance. In cooperation with our Belarusian partners, passengers have been provided with free hot meals. Several options for returning the Russians to their home country are being arranged,” the diplomatic mission said.

According to Flightradar24, flights TK3140 and TK3176 were unable to land in St Petersburg, turned around over the Gulf of Finland and headed for Belarus.

The aircraft were diverted following a massive drone attack on St Petersburg and the Leningrad Region overnight on October 18.

According to Leningrad Region Governor Alexander Drozdenko, 145 drones were shot down over the region. Among other damage, a data centre operated by the VKontakte group was hit, affecting transformer equipment and a warehouse complex. The company said its services remained available to users “as usual.”

In St Petersburg, Governor Alexander Beglov had earlier reported fires in four districts of the city and at the St Petersburg Oil Terminal.

The drone attack affected flight schedules between Minsk and St Petersburg. According to the online departures and arrivals board of Minsk National Airport, the arrival of Belavia flight B2940 from St Petersburg, scheduled for 18:30, has been delayed. Pobeda Airlines flight DP893 from St Petersburg, due to arrive at 19:00, has been cancelled. The departure of Belavia flight B2955 to Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport, scheduled for 17:40, has also been cancelled.