Thirteen airports across southern Russia have suspended operations following a reported Ukrainian drone strike on an air navigation facility in Rostov-on-Don, according to the Russian Transport Ministry.
Officials said the attack targeted the administrative building of the Air Navigation of Southern Russia branch, triggering widespread disruption across the region’s aviation network. More than 80 flights were reportedly delayed or cancelled, leaving an estimated 14,000 passengers stranded in airport terminals.
The Transport Ministry said airlines had been instructed to arrange alternative transport by rail and road, as authorities work to restore normal operations. A timetable for reopening airports is expected to be announced in the coming days, though officials have suggested restrictions may remain in place until at least May 12.
The disruption comes amid a reported wave of drone activity across multiple Russian cities overnight on May 8, with regional officials claiming several industrial and energy sites were also affected.
A significant fire was reported at the Yaroslavl oil refinery, while another blaze broke out at an industrial facility in Rostov-on-Don. Russian authorities have attributed the incidents to drone strikes, though independent verification remains limited.
Russia’s Air travel has been crippled with 13 Airports now shutdown possibly until the 12th May.
Just leave Ukraine 🇺🇦 it really is that simple. https://t.co/LpcSH9CSDh
— Shaun Pinner (@ShaunPinnerUA) May 8, 2026
Drones were also reportedly detected over Moscow, with the city’s mayor Sergey Sobyanin saying air defence systems intercepted incoming UAVs before they reached the capital.
The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency said the closures were a precautionary measure and could be revised earlier depending on security assessments.
The developments form part of a broader escalation in long-range drone warfare, with Ukraine increasingly targeting infrastructure deep inside Russian territory, including energy production and transport systems.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine will respond “symmetrically” to continued Russian strikes, describing the current pattern of attacks as ongoing despite Moscow’s declared ceasefire period covering May 8–10.
According to Ukrainian military data, more than 140 attacks and over 850 drone strikes were recorded within hours of the Russian ceasefire coming into effect, underscoring the breakdown in de-escalation efforts.
Moscow has maintained that its own forces are acting in response to Ukrainian provocations, while Kyiv insists Russian operations have continued despite the announcement of a temporary pause in hostilities.
As both sides escalate long-range strikes, the latest wave of airport closures and infrastructure damage highlights the growing strain on Russia’s internal transport and energy networks far from the front line.
Leave a Comment