There have been no reports of casualties after a drone hit a residential building
A powerful blast rocked the Russian city of St. Petersburg early on Saturday after a drone crashed into a residential building, local media have reported. Russian officials have yet to comment on the matter.
According to local outlet Fontanka, the explosion occurred in the northern part of the city, and the facade of a residential block was “seriously damaged.” Telegram channels Baza and Mash have said there were no casualties.
Baza wrote that windows in at least four apartments were shattered, and the building’s residents were evacuated.
Videos from the scene shared by both Baza and Mash showed a yard strewn with debris, with emergency services working at the scene.
Meanwhile, another clip shared by Mash depicts the moment the drone apparently hit the building. The sound of a humming engine can be heard, followed by a loud bang. The outlet suggested that the drone could have been heading for a nearby oil facility, less that 1km away.
St. Petersburg and its environs have recently been targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks despite the city being located hundreds of kilometers from the frontline.
READ MORE: Ukrainian drone downed near St. Petersburg – MOD
In mid-January, the Russian Defense Ministry said that it had intercepted a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle in the area, with local media saying it was targeting an oil terminal in the city.
