Drone attacks delay flights across northern Russia
Flights to Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Apatity and many other destinations were Saturday morning delayed and cancelled en masse, leaving passengers stranded in overcrowded airports in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Russia's ministry of war on Saturday reported that 94 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were intercepted and destroyed over several regions on the night to, and in the early morning of July 5.
Departure schedules from both Sheremtyevo airport in Moscow and Pulkovo in St. Petersburg have all Saturday informed about delays and cancellations. The two airports for the most serve flights to the northwestern regions of Russia and international routes to Asia and the Middle-East.
All delays were caused by temporary restrictions due to threats of drones in the airspace.
The airspace opened gradually again over St. Petersburg in the morning, but delays accumulated throughout the day.
Authorities reported about drones being shot down over both Moscow and St. Petersburg, but no further details were provided.
There have been many closures of the airspace in the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions over the last year, as Ukrainian drone operators are targeting military objects deeper into Russia. On June 1, a massive drone operation targeted several military airports, like the Olenya air base on the Kola Peninsula where four strategic bombers and one cargo plane were destroyed.
Pilots flying north have previously warned that planes already in the air might run out of fuel as they have to circle when airspaces are closed on short notice.
