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Russian airports closed amid alleged Ukrainian balloon and drone raid
The Kyiv Independent • • world
Key Points:
- Several major Moscow airports, including Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky, temporarily suspended flights on October 9 due to suspected Ukrainian drones and balloons entering Russian airspace.
- Russian air defense reportedly repelled an attack involving 15 UAVs, and reconnaissance balloons allegedly launched from Ukraine were shot down over Yaroslavl Oblast, north of Moscow.
- At least one Russian government aircraft was forced to divert from Moscow to St. Petersburg amid the disruptions, impacting flights carrying top-level officials.
- The airports reopened by late afternoon, but the incident highlights ongoing challenges to Russian airspace following Ukrainian President Zelensky's September announcement to intensify drone activity over Russia.
- Despite causing significant disruptions, Ukrainian drone raids have not yet achieved the complete closure of Russian skies that Zelensky had forecasted.
