In southern Russia, 13 airports temporarily suspended operations after enemy drones hit the administrative building of the "Air Navigation of Southern Russia" branch in Rostov-on-Don. This was reported by the Ministry of Transport.
The restrictions affected airports in Astrakhan, Vladikavkaz, Volgograd, Gelendzhik, Grozny, Krasnodar, Makhachkala, Magas, Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Sochi, Stavropol, and Elista.
According to the agency, no personnel were injured. Specialists are currently checking the condition of the equipment and assessing the possibility of restoring the operation of the regional air traffic control center, which coordinates flights in the south of the country.
Against the backdrop of restrictions, airlines began to massively adjust their schedules. Some flights are canceled, others are sent to alternate airfields. Aeroflot, Rossiya, and Pobeda warned of flight postponements and increased travel times for some routes. International flights from other regions of Russia continue to operate.
Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights in advance and not to come to airports if their flight is canceled. Carriers and contact centers have been put on an enhanced operating mode.
The head of the Ministry of Transport, Andrey Nikitin, instructed airlines, together with Russian Railways and the Unified Transport Directorate, to organize alternative passenger transportation – using trains and buses.
The restrictions also affected other regions. Within 24 hours, temporary measures were introduced at the airports of Samara, Kazan, Ulyanovsk, Cheboksary, Bugulma, Izhevsk, Ufa, Perm, and Moscow's Vnukovo, but they were later lifted.
At Mineralnye Vody airport, 13 flights have already been canceled. Pulkovo reported delays and cancellations of 23 flights to southern cities of Russia.
