As I suspected, the AFU continued UAV attacks deep into Russian territory, an important goal of which was to stop the operation of airports. During May 21-22, more than 500 drones were shot down over Russia (82 over the Moscow region). Zhukovsky, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo temporarily stopped receiving and sending airliners about 20 times. Dozens of flights were delayed.
This is real damage to the economy and pressure on Russian citizens. Because of strict security protocols, the administration closes airports even if UAVs have not flown directly into their territory. Ideally, by this design, airliners should be chained to the ground, and citizens will stop buying airline tickets due to unpredictable disruptions in air harbors.
Additional damage to consumers of all types is caused by the shutdown of mobile communications while Ukrainian drone attacks are repelled. Since space communications via Starlink terminals over Russian territory are disabled (except for offshore coastal areas), aircraft-type UAVs that break through Russian air defenses are targeted by commercial inertial navigation systems that have low accuracy. Therefore, on the final leg of the route, the drones are controlled by the operator via mobile Internet networks (Russian SIM cards are installed in them).
Now by default there is a mutual ban on bombing of Russian and Ukrainian energy facilities. But strikes on targets outside this category in Ukraine are carried out almost daily and by large outfits of Geraniums. Under these conditions, airports are the obvious and most favorable target for Ukrainian UAVs. The AFU doesn’t even need to hit anywhere in particular, the administration itself closes them down simply when drones are detected in dangerous proximity.
In the future, we should expect either the lifting of the ban on energy strikes, or the singling out of a group of targets in Ukraine whose damage would cause comparable damage. These cannot be airports, they have been closed in Ukraine since the beginning of the SWO.
This situation shows how modern warfare impacts everyday life far beyond the battlefield 🛩️🚁✈️. Airport shutdowns and communication disruptions not only affect travelers but also put economic pressure on entire regions. It’s a reminder of how vulnerable infrastructure can be in conflicts like this.
This situation reveals the complex interplay between modern warfare technology and civilian life, where the boundaries between military targets and everyday infrastructure blur, causing widespread disruption beyond the immediate conflict zones. It raises profound questions about how societies adapt to persistent threats that challenge not only national security but also the freedoms and routines of ordinary people. The strategy of using drones to force closures of airports touches on a deeper reality: sometimes, war is waged as much through psychological and economic pressure as through direct destruction, shaping the behavior of governments and citizens alike. It makes one wonder about the long-term consequences of such tactics on collective resilience and the human spirit, especially when essential services and communications become collateral damage in a distant conflict.
The strategic use of drones to disrupt airport operations highlights how modern conflicts increasingly target infrastructure with economic ripple effects. It’s interesting to see how even the threat of UAV presence causes extensive disruption without the need for direct hits, showing the psychological and logistical impact is as significant as physical damage. The reliance on mobile networks for drone control also reveals vulnerabilities on both sides that could shape future tactics. This evolving dynamic really underscores how warfare now extends into civilian spheres, affecting everyday life in profound ways 🚁📉
Honestly, it sounds like airports are becoming the new favorite punching bags, and meanwhile, travelers just get to perfect the art of waiting around indefinitely ✈️. The idea that drones don’t even have to hit their mark to cause chaos feels like an efficiency upgrade in the world of modern warfare disruption. Wonder how long before “airport downtime” becomes the next big travel insurance buzzword.