Ukrainian Drones Kill 2 in Western Smolensk Region as Baltics and Finland Issue Air Alerts

Nov. 11, 2026 A fire broke out in an apartment building in the city of Yartsevo, located in the Smolensk region, on Nov. 11, 2026. @astrapress / Telegram Two people were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack in western Russia’s Smolensk region, local officials said Wednesday, as separate strikes in the northern part of the country reportedly wounded several workers. Smolensk region Governor Vasily Anokhin said the two people were killed in the city of Yartsevo when drone debris crashed into an apartment building and sparked a fire. He did not provide any details about the victims. The deaths add to the nearly 600 Russian civilians who are estimated to have been killed in Ukrainian attacks since the start of the year, according to Conflict Intelligence Team, an independent war monitoring group. In the northwestern Leningrad region, Governor Alexander Drozdenko said three workers were wounded when drones targeted the port of Ust-Luga, which serves as a key export hub for Russian oil and grain. He said a fire broke out as a result of the attack. Further to the north, civil aviation authorities in the Murmansk region temporarily suspended flights at the region’s main airport amid an air raid alert. It was reportedly the first time Murmansk has faced similar air restrictions since Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted 627 Ukrainian drones across Russia and annexed Crimea between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. As Ukraine and Russia exchanged overnight strikes, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania issued alerts, urging people to seek shelter after unidentified drones entered or approached their airspace from Russia and Belarus. Finland introduced partial airspace and maritime restrictions in the eastern Gulf of Finland as a precaution, then lifted them later Wednesday morning. The overnight attacks come as Russian and Ukrainian delegates gather in Abu Dhabi for a second and final day of U.S.-mediated talks aimed at ending the war. Reuters contributed reporting. Read more about: Ukraine war , Drones , Smolensk , Baltics , Finland Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ukrainian Drone Attack Sparks Oil Depot Fire in Smolensk Region, Governor Says Russia’s Defense Ministry said it downed 68 Ukrainian drones overnight, with 10 destroyed over the Smolensk region. 1 Min read Ukrainian Drone Attacks Damage Energy Sites in Western Russia Authorities in the Oryol region reported temporary power outages after an unmanned aircraft caused damage to infrastructure. 2 Min read Ukraine Attack Drones Strike Russia Energy Sites Footage published on social media showed an oil refinery in the western Smolensk region in flames. 2 Min read Ukraine and Russia Trade Strikes as U.S. Gears up for Key Vote U.S. lawmakers are preparing to vote on a $61 billion aid package Kyiv hopes will boost its flagging war effort. 3 Min read