Police raid near St. Petersburg's Kupchino metro station yields fake documents, illegal weapons

Russian police conducted a large-scale operation on Vitebskiy Prospect near St. Petersburg's Kupchino metro station on June 18, 2026, checking the documents of approximately 290 people and inspecting over 200 vehicles. The operation focused on migration control and road safety enforcement in an area known for heavy traffic flow. About one-third of the individuals checked were foreign nationals, and eight were taken to a police station for violations of migration legislation and processed under administrative code articles 18.8.

During the document verification process, police officers paid particular attention to identifying forged documents. One foreign national presented a document bearing the seal of a government agency that had been abolished several years prior. Investigators are considering whether to open a criminal case under Article 327 of the Russian Criminal Code, which addresses document forgery. The sophistication of some forgeries was poor enough to raise suspicions upon cursory inspection.

In parallel operations, traffic police and canine handlers checked over 200 vehicles, with service dogs inspecting cargo trucks and vans. The search yielded illegal traumatic weapons being transported in violation of regulations, discovered in two vehicles. This information was referred to the relevant division of Rosgvardiya (the National Guard). Additionally, inspectors identified multiple traffic violations and prepared more than ten administrative materials under various articles of the traffic code. Drivers who refused medical examination were prohibited from continuing and had their vehicles towed to specialized impound lots.

The operation is part of broader law enforcement efforts in St. Petersburg regarding migration control. Earlier that week, police had checked approximately 100 foreign workers at a residential complex construction site in Vasileoostrovskiy district, where some workers attempted to hide on upper unfinished floors to avoid inspection. Since the beginning of 2026, court bailiffs in St. Petersburg have forcibly deported 4,050 foreign nationals and stateless persons, with the largest numbers coming from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.