**Drone Attacks Force Russia to Suspend Airport Operations Record Number of Times**
The first months of 2025 have seen a surge in drone attacks on Russian airports, with the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) reporting that air travel was suspended over 200 times. This is a record number since the start of the full-scale war, according to independent Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe.
**Ukraine’s Drone Strikes Hit Russian Targets**
Ukraine has been launching drones at military and industrial targets in Russia, but rarely comments on attacks within Russian territory. The recent spike in drone strikes has forced Russian airports to shut down a record number of times – 217 times between January and May 10, 2025, compared to 58 total closures in 2023 and 91 in 2024.
**May Saw High Number of Closures**
The first week of May saw a particularly high number of closures, with restrictions introduced at airports almost 50 times. This was largely due to waves of drones targeting Moscow, prompting repeated closures in the days leading up to Russia’s Victory Day parade on May 9.
**Impact on Russian Passengers and Flights**
The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) claimed that Ukraine’s intensifying drone strikes affected 60,000 Russian passengers and delayed or canceled at least 350 flights. A total of 37 civilian airports have experienced disruptions this year, mostly in central Russia, with the highest number of disruptions occurring at Moscow airports.
**Call for Ceasefire**
President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Russia to accept a complete, unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which Moscow has refused. However, Russian and Ukrainian delegates are expected to meet in Istanbul on May 15 for their first direct peace talks since the early days of the full-scale invasion.
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