On 23 March, Zenit St. Petersburg visited Beograd, Serbia, to play friendly match against Crvena Zvezda and lost 0-1.

Before the kick-off the match participants took a moment of silence in memory of victims of the tragedy in Crocus City Hall in Moscow Region. Zenit conceded the only goal on 82nd minute from Nikola Knezevic.

Reigning Russian and Serbian champions met second time this season; Crvena Zvezda also beat Zenit in St. Petersburg in July at friendly tournament with 2-1 score.

There were two more matches scheduled to play on 23 March – Dynamo vs Krylia Sovetov in Moscow and Neftchi vs Spartak in Baku. Both fixtures were cancelled due to tragedy in Moscow Region.

Zenit, the RPL leaders after Week 20, will resume the season facing Krylia Sovetov in Samara on 30 March.