A gun was discovered during a car search in St. Petersburg, according to reports from fontanka.ru. The incident unfolded when traffic police stopped a VAZ-2110 on Lermontov Street overnight. A 21-year-old resident of Saint Petersburg was behind the wheel. Inside the vehicle were a Kalashnikov assault rifle with a magazine, a signal pistol, and a smoke device. None of the weapons carried registration or documents, and investigators have not determined who the gun was intended to harm.
Earlier, on September 16–17, authorities conducted a series of large-scale traffic checks aimed at identifying drunk drivers. The roadside operations involved intensified scrutiny and improved oversight across multiple regions. Police said similar comprehensive checks would continue, with officers increasing patrols on major routes in the Murmansk region, Smolensk region, Ivanovo region, Ryazan region, Samara region, Kirov region, Bryansk region, Lipetsk region, Penza region, and other parts of the country.
During these checks, traffic police stopped every vehicle along a designated stretch of the road and assessed the condition of each driver. The approach, described by officials as a full-scale verification, sought to deter impaired driving and enhance road safety by ensuring that all relevant safety measures were observed and that any potential violations were promptly addressed.
In a separate incident previously reported, a traffic police officer operating a patrol car was involved in an accident with a 14-year-old a minor along the roadway. Investigators have said they will review the circumstances to determine accountability and any necessary safety improvements for future operations.