Ukraine escalates drone attacks on Russian airspace, prompting widespread airport closures
Ukraine says it will increase drone incursions into Russian airspace to disrupt civilian flights, leading to dozens of airport closures and prompting responses from Russian officials and airlines.
Ukraine has announced a campaign to intensify drone flights across the Russian border in an effort to make Russian airspace unsafe for civilian aviation. President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the increasing number of unmanned aircraft could force Russia to ground flights, a strategy described by the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Southern Command as a move to "paralyze civilian air traffic" in the European part of the Russian Federation.
Data cited by a news outlet shows that Russian airports experienced nearly 1,000 closures in August, up from fewer than 200 in the same period a year earlier, with an average of 32 airports closed each day. Recent reports indicate that Moscow’s four main airports and several regional hubs have faced disruptions over the past three days.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine does not intend to target civilian aircraft, stating that the drones are aimed at Russian airspace rather than individual planes. Moscow’s mayor reported that hundreds of drones have been detected heading toward the capital, with many intercepted.
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the warnings as a "declaration of terrorism" and said Russia would respond with appropriate measures. Russia’s transport minister said the government would work to prevent significant disruption to civil aviation.
The heightened tension has led some airlines to suspend or pause services to Russia. Air Tanzania halted its routes after a risk assessment, Pegasus suspended operations for technical reasons, and Flydubai said it is monitoring the situation and adjusting schedules as needed.