Operations at 13 Russian airports suspended after drones hit air navigation building in Rostov-on-Don

Operations at 13 airports in Russia's south have been suspended following a drone strike on the office building of an air navigation facility in Rostov-on-Don, Russia's Ministry of Transport has reported.

Source: Russia's Ministry of Transport on Telegram; Rostov-on-Don Mayor Alexander Skryabin; Association of Tour Operators of Russia on Telegram

Quote from the ministry: "Operations at the regional centre in Rostov-on-Don, which manages air traffic in Russia's south, have been temporarily adjusted due to Ukrainian UAV strikes on the office building of the Southern Russia Aeronavigatsiya [air navigation] branch."

Details: It is reported that an "analysis of the equipment's operational capability is currently underway" and that "air traffic control procedures in Russia's south are being adjusted".

"Operations at the following airports have been temporarily suspended: Astrakhan, Vladikavkaz, Volgograd, Gelendzhik, Grozny, Krasnodar, Makhachkala, Magas, Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Sochi, Stavropol and Elista. Information on the further operation of the airports will be updated at 11:00 Moscow time," the Russian Ministry of Transport said.

It is noted that the ministry and Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya), together with airlines and airports, are adjusting flight schedules.

Rostov-on-Don Mayor Alexander Skryabin stated that he had convened an extraordinary meeting of an emergency commission, at which it was decided "to declare a state of emergency within Rostov's Zheleznodorozhny district, where damage has been caused following the falling of a drone".

The Association of Tour Operators of Russia reported that, as of 10:00, more than 80 flights had already been delayed or cancelled at airports in Russia's south.

"At least 14,000 passengers are waiting to depart. These are mainly domestic flights within Russia. The most difficult situation is in Sochi, where new restrictions have compounded major schedule disruptions over the past two days," the Association of Tour Operators of Russia said.

Due to the suspension of operations at southern airports, 13 international flights from Sochi, Mineralnye Vody, Krasnodar, Makhachkala and Vladikavkaz have also been cancelled or delayed. This will affect around 3,000 tourists and lead to "mirrored" disruptions to return flights from foreign airports to Russia, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia added.

Background:

• On 8 May, explosions were reported in Yaroslavl, followed by a fire at an oil refinery. Moscow and Rostov-on-Don were also reportedly targeted.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Ukrainian forces have carried out a long-range attack, which he ironically called "long-range sanctions", against an oil facility in the Russian city of Yaroslavl.

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