In brief: Russian milblogger Tumanov reported that pilots died defending St. Petersburg from a Ukrainian drone attack. Russian Telegram channels claimed a Ka-52 helicopter was lost, but Moscow has not confirmed any aircraft losses.
Russian pilots have been reportedly killed while repelling a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian city of St. Petersburg, according to a prominent Russian military blogger.
Ilya Tumanov, author of the Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber, reported the deaths but did not provide details about the circumstances or identify the aircraft involved.
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“Defending the skies over St. Petersburg from a drone attack today came at a very high cost to us. A very, very, very high cost. May you fly forever, brothers.” Tumanov wrote.
Other Russian Telegram channels claimed that the incident involved a Ka-52 attack helicopter.
The Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ also reported a possible loss of the aircraft, writing: “The loss of a Russian Ka-52, along with its crew.”
Russia’s defense ministry has not reported the loss of any military aircraft or helicopter.
The Kamov Ka-52 Alligator is a two-seat attack helicopter developed from the earlier Ka-50 Black Shark. It entered serial production in 2011 and was valued at approximately $16 million in 2023.
Considered one of Russia’s most advanced combat helicopters, the Ka-52 can operate day and night in various weather conditions and reach speeds of up to 300 km/h (186 mph).
It has a maximum takeoff weight of 10,800 kilograms (23,750 pounds), a service ceiling of 5,500 meters (18,000 feet), and can carry up to 2,800 kilograms (6,200 pounds) of weaponry.
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The helicopter is used for reconnaissance, battlefield coordination, and strikes against armored and unarmored ground targets, as well as aerial threats. Its main armament is a 30mm 2A42 autocannon, and it can also carry various guided missiles and unguided rockets.
Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry reported that Ukraine had launched a large-scale drone attack on several Russian regions overnight, claiming that the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) deployed more than 627 drones in total, according to RBC-Ukraine.
Drone strike sparks fire at key Russian Baltic Sea oil export port
A massive overnight drone attack struck Russia’s Ust-Luga port in the Leningrad region early on Wednesday, Nov. 11, sparking a fire and forcing the shutdown of a transformer substation, regional Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko reported.
Drozdenko said Russian air defenses intercepted 150 drones over the region overnight. The figures could not be independently verified.
Footage published by the Ukrainian monitoring channel Exilenova+ reportedly showed explosions near the port and a large fire, with the channel reporting after noon that the facility was still burning.
The attack also disrupted air traffic near St. Petersburg, with around 18 flights canceled or delayed at Pulkovo Airport, according to Russian state news agency TASS.
Ust-Luga is one of Russia’s major Baltic Sea export hubs, handling crude oil, refined petroleum products, and other commodities. Its facilities include oil terminals and infrastructure supporting shipments to international markets.
The latest strike followed another reported drone attack in the Leningrad region on Monday, when a fire broke out at the Kirishi oil refinery, one of Russia’s largest refining facilities. The extent of the damage at Ust-Luga and any disruption to oil exports remain unclear.
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