Ukraine Deploys Balloon-Lifted Drones to Disrupt Moscow Airports

Ukraine is deploying a new, deadly tactic to rattle Moscow. Kamikaze drones are now being released from high-flying weather balloons to trigger chaos across the Russian capital's airports. The strategy aims to clog the skies and ground flights at major hubs.

Kremlin-aligned war channels have shared images of a drone dangling beneath what appears to be a weather balloon. New Military Columnist reported that this specific device is being used to target the Russian capital. The goal is clear: disrupt operations at the Moscow aviation hub. The balloons reportedly lift the drones to high altitudes before they are launched, maximizing their reach and potential damage.

The impact is immediate and severe. Across Russia, nearly 1,000 flights have been delayed or cancelled. Frustration is mounting as Ukraine escalates its efforts to disrupt airspace controlled by Vladimir Putin. While most threats come from regular drones launched directly from Ukraine, this balloon-based method adds a new layer of complexity.

Footage from Sheremetyevo, one of Moscow's busiest international airports, shows massive gridlocks. Thousands of passengers are stranded in long queues. By early afternoon, reports indicated 84 flights were delayed and 45 cancelled. Smoke was spotted near the airport, raising suspicions that an unmanned plane crashed nearby. Some sources placed the smoke close to a Rosneft oil depot.

Vnukovo Airport, a favorite for Russian officials and VIPs, saw 119 delays and ten cancellations. The disruption isn't limited to the capital. Novosibirsk, Siberia's largest airport, reported around 100 disrupted aircraft. St Petersburg's Pulkovo logged 138 delays or cancellations.

Passengers are growing angry, largely due to a lack of information from authorities. One woman on a Pobeda Airline flight complained about conditions on board: "There are children on board. There is no food, only water." Some travelers have been waiting for days because planes are held at other airports, unable to fly into Moscow.

The Russian Defence Ministry claims it has downed 2,690 Ukrainian drones in the past two-and-a-half days. That is among the highest figures recorded in the entire war.

Ukraine places the blame squarely on Putin. They argue his refusal to halt the war, and the support of Russians who back him, are the root causes. Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian national security commentator, pointed to the chaos at Sheremetyevo. He noted that Russians are posting videos of the disruption. "The consequences of Putin's geopolitics are manifesting in constant transportation disruptions," Kovalenko said. "They chose this path, and they must bear the consequences.