Russia Begins Installing Drone Shelters in St. Petersburg After Ukrainian Strikes Near Baltic Fleet Hub — UNITED24 Media

Russia has begun installing public drone shelters in Kronstadt, a district of St. Petersburg and home to the headquarters of the Russian Baltic Fleet, after Ukrainian drone attacks increasingly reached targets in northwestern Russia.

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According to statements published by local authorities on June 19, the shelters are being installed at four locations across Kronstadt, including Yakornaya Square near the Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas, a public space along Kronstadt Highway in the city’s 16th microdistrict, Zosimova Street near Incheon Square, and near a bus stop at the intersection of Litke Street and Kronstadt Highway.

A newly installed public drone shelter stands along a street in Kronstadt, part of local authorities’ emergency preparedness measures. (Source: Kronstadt District Administration) Workers install a concrete public shelter in Kronstadt as Russian authorities expand civilian protection measures against drone attacks. (Source: Kronstadt District Administration)

According to the Kronstadt district administration, the shelters will be located within the coverage area of the city’s “Safe City” video surveillance system. Officials also urged residents to keep the facilities clean and use them as intended.

In a statement cited by local authorities, Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM) reiterated its guidance for drone attacks:

“In the event of a UAV attack, it is recommended to remain inside a building with load-bearing walls and stay away from windows. If you are outdoors during a drone attack, you should immediately take shelter in the nearest safe location.”

Photographs released by local officials show one shelter being installed near the Naval Cathedral and another positioned along a pedestrian sidewalk.

The move comes as Ukrainian long-range drone strikes increasingly target military, energy, and industrial infrastructure deep inside Russia. St. Petersburg and the surrounding Leningrad region have become recurring targets in recent months.

Earlier in June, a drone attack caused a fire at the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal in the city’s Kirovsky district. Local reports said explosions were heard across several districts of St. Petersburg. In May, operations at the Kirishinefteorgsintez (KINEF) refinery—one of Russia’s largest oil-processing facilities—were reportedly suspended following a drone strike.

The shelter installations also follow a large-scale drone attack on Moscow. Russian officials said nearly 200 drones were intercepted during an overnight attack on June 18, while authorities reported that the Moscow Oil Refinery in the Kapotnya district was among the primary targets.