Ukrainian drones have disrupted operations at one of Russia’s largest airports.
In Sochi, more than 50 flights have been delayed, thousands of passengers are stranded and some are spending the night on terminal floors, local media reported.
For many, vacations have descended into chaos with ruined plans; for Russia’s economy, the losses run into the millions.
At the height of the holiday season, Russia’s main southern airport has been brought to a standstill. Following Ukrainian drone attacks, more than 50 flights were delayed in Sochi and thousands of passengers were left stuck in the terminal, local outlets said.
The disruption began overnight on August 30, when Krasnodar Krai and neighboring Adygea came under a mass drone attack. The Sochi airport temporarily halted arrivals and departures. The outage dragged on: more than 24 flights were delayed on departure and another 30 on arrival. Seating is scarce; passengers are sitting on the floor, and mats are being handed out.
The disruption is rippling through the transport system. At the peak of the season, thousands have been stuck at the airport, some flights canceled, and others postponed indefinitely. Business trips, vacations and meetings are being derailed.
Even Russian media acknowledge a tense atmosphere in the terminal, with passengers complaining about exhaustion and a lack of adequate conditions while they wait.
The shutdown at the country’s biggest resort airport is a serious blow to Russia’s image and economy. Tourism businesses are taking losses, airlines are missing schedules, and psychological pressure on the public is mounting. Ukraine, the report says, has once again shown it can strike sensitive targets, paralyzing infrastructure and creating disruption inside Russia.
