St Pulkovo Airport Reports Temporary Night Restrictions and Investigation
St Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg instituted temporary night restrictions, a measure that was reported by the state agency TASS. The situation involved a specific protocol code known locally as the “Carpet” plan, and officials clarified that the restrictions were active from 03:53 to 05:11 Moscow time. The airport’s management noted that during this window operations continued normally and that the agency did not provide a public explanation for the temporary measures. The timing and rationale for these restrictions remained unclear to the public on the official record.
In the wake of the restrictions, residents of St. Petersburg reported an unusual audible event in the city. News outlets, including Fontanka, described a sound resembling applause that was audible from multiple city districts on the morning of January 31. Reportedly, areas such as Pyatiletok Boulevard, Tavricheskaya Street, and the Moskovsky Station district were affected, with residents noting a cotton-like or muffled noise accompanying the sound. These accounts were corroborated by video footage captured by the city’s public video monitoring systems, which also showed several vehicle alarms triggering in the aftermath.
Authorities indicated that the night’s events warranted the attention of law enforcement agencies. Statements from city officials referenced an incident at a local industrial site in the Nevsky district that prompted a formal response from the regional leadership. The governor of the city, Alexander Beglov, described the occurrence as an incident requiring investigative focus. The public record includes references to subsequent video material that purportedly shows an explosion at a local facility in the Nevsky district, prompting ongoing scrutiny by authorities and emergency responders. These developments were reported as part of a broader effort to understand the sequence of events and any potential safety implications for residents and visitors.
Overall, authorities have framed the night’s events as an incident that necessitated police and emergency oversight, while the airport maintains normal operations within the temporary restrictions. The situation illustrates the complex interplay between airport security measures, municipal safety concerns, and public communication in a major urban center. Attribution for the initial reporting comes from TASS, with additional local verification provided by Fontanka and official statements from city leadership, including Governor Beglov.