
Russian air travel faces major disruption after Ukraine drone attacks
Photos circulating on social media showed crowds huddling at Russian airports including key international hubs in Moscow and St Petersburg, as hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled due to Ukrainian drone strikes on Saturday and overnight, according to Russia's Transport Ministry.
The flight disruption hit Moscow's Sheremetyevo and St Petersburg's main Pulkovo airports. Other airports in western and central Russia also faced disruption.
Russian air defences shot down 120 Ukrainian drones during the night-time attacks, and 39 more before 2pm local time on Sunday, Russia's Defence Ministry said. It did not say how many had hit targets, or how many had been launched in total.
Rescue workers clear the rubble around a house damaged by a Russian strike in Kyiv (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)
Early on Sunday, Ukrainian drones injured two civilians in Russia's Belgorod region near the border, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
The Ukrainian attacks came just days after Russia pummelled Kyiv with waves of drones and missiles overnight into Friday, in what Ukrainian officials called the largest such strike since Moscow's all-out invasion.
The seven-hour onslaught killed at least two civilians, wounded dozens more and caused widespread damage, Ukraine said, while Moscow ramped up its push to capture more of its neighbour's land.
In total, Russia launched 550 drones and missiles across Ukraine that night, according to the country's air force. The barrages have coincided with a concerted Russian effort to break through parts of the roughly 620-mile front line, where Ukrainian troops are under severe pressure.
Large-scale Russian drone strikes on Sunday injured three civilians in Kyiv and at least two in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city in the north east, officials said.
A large Russian attack involving Shahed drones also targeted port infrastructure in Mykolaiv in central Ukraine, according to governor Vitaliy Kim. He reported warehouses and the port's power grid were damaged but there were no casualties.
Hours later, Russia launched a glide bomb and a drone at the front-line town of Kostyantynivka in eastern Ukraine, killing four civilians and injuring a fifth, the prosecutor's office said. The drone struck a car in which a married couple were travelling, killing the 39-year-old woman and 40-year-old man on the spot, it said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Sick British traitor, 38, who fights for Putin shamelessly brags he's won a bravery medal for ‘wiping out' Ukrainians
A BRITISH traitor who fled to Russia to fight for Vladimir Putin has bragged about winning a bravery medal for slaughtering Ukrainians. Advertisement 6 Aiden Minnis, 38, fled to Russia in 2022 and has been fighting for the Kremlin's forces Credit: East2West 6 He claims to have been awarded a bravery medal for killing Ukrainians after being handed a Russian passport Credit: X 6 The traitor says he is now fighting as a stormtrooper in Vlad's army Credit: vk The former drug addict, from Wiltshire, scurried over the Russia at the launch of its invasion in 2022. He Kremlin killing machine - even vowing that he was Minnis was granted Russian citizenship and He gloated in a video: 'I have a Russian passport. I am now Russian. Advertisement 'I am relieved because now I know I am safe, safe from prosecution in the UK, safe from false and bogus charges just because I want to come and fight for Russia and fight for a just cause." Minnis, who spent time in jail in the UK for a violent racist attack, claims that he was awarded the Suvoror medal earlier this year - an honour bestowed by the Russian state to ground troops for courage shown "in defence of the Fatherland". He boasted that he was given the prize for "wiping out numerous khokhols" - a derogatory term for Ukrainians - reports the He added: "I hope I get many more for killing the fascists and eliminating the Nazi scourge.' Advertisement Most read in The Sun It is one of the lies used by the Kremlin to justify its invasion that there is a rising fascist element in Ukraine which must be crushed. The defector also claims to have joined the Russian motorised rifle regiment in the Kharkov region. Putin close to pounding Ukraine with 1,000 missiles and drones a DAY He was previously a "sapper", laying landmines and explosives, but his supposed new role would involve actively storming Ukrainian trenches and positions. Minnis went on to claim that he had had many near misses in combat with Ukrainian drones and mortar shells, and said he was wounded by shrapnel last year - hospitalising him for months. Advertisement But he insists: 'Although it's very hard fighting, it must be done.' Minnis' family back in Britain disowned him after the treacherous Brit joined Putin's illegal war in Ukraine . They claim they want "Nothing to do with him". 6 He posted a video last year bragging about his Russian citizenship Advertisement 6 Ben Stimson (pictured posing with a grenade), from Oldham, also left the UK to fight in Putin's army The former National Front thug previously claimed he is "doing the Lord's work" by frontline . Minnis said in a video: 'I am starting a new life in Russia . I am now Russian. I am happy to be Russian." He made clear from the start he expected Putin's army to send him into harm's way on the frontline. Advertisement 'After my vacation I go to a storm battalion. So things are only going to get tougher for me. 'I know it's dangerous. War is dangerous.' The UK government has said on Minnis' warped decision: "Reports of British nationals taking part in illegal invasion are shocking and their alleged actions are reprehensible. 'Those who travel from the UK to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return.' Advertisement Minnis is one of two Brits unmasked as traitors caught fighting against Ukraine . Read more on the Irish Sun His 'best British friend in the Russian army' is Ben Stimson, who was previously convicted for terrorism after helping pro-Russian separatists. The 48-year-old from Oldham shared videos online from the frontline brazenly flaunting Russian military gear and gloating: "Yes, yes, I'm back in Russia. I'm back in uniform." 6 Minnis, 37, has been disowned by his family in the UK Advertisement


The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Bloodthirsty Putin pounding Ukraine with close to 1,000 missiles and kamikaze drones a DAY in brazen defiance of Trump
RUSSIA could soon hammer Ukraine with 1,000 drones and missiles every day - as another deadly blitz landed overnight. It was the second 7 A fire rages following a strike on Odesa, where at least one person was killed Credit: East2West 7 A Russian Kamikaze drone hurtles down towards a built-up area Credit: East2West 7 Putin is cranking up the size of his assaults on Ukraine - in clear defiance against Trump's continued peace efforts Credit: AFP On June 1, a 479-strong wave of drones and missiles became June 9 saw that broken with 499, then again on June 29 with 537. And finally, just last Friday, Putin terrorised Kyiv with a firestorm of 550 drones and missiles - just as he and Trump finished a phone call. read more in world news Russia's defence industry is ballooning as projects come to fruition - such as an expanded missile plant in Votkinsk and rapidly expanding supply chains. With an expanding arsenal , the size of Russia's regular salvos look set only to increase - meaning they could soon nudge 1000 weapons per day. It's a bleak prospect for Ukraine, where each wave brings pain and death. Dozens of kamikaze drones and missiles landed this morning , killing at least three people - two in the weary Sumy region and on in Odessa. Most read in The US Sun There were also dozens of casualties in Ukraine 's second city Kharkiv. At least 27 were wounded, including children aged three, seven and 11, by the onslaught of Iranian-designed Shaded drones. US President Donald Trump said Russia just wanted to -keep killing people- and hinted at sanctions after Moscow launched its largest ever drone and missile attack on Ukraine in the three-year-old war- Two residential blocks were hit in Kharkiv, according to the regional administration, Oleh Syniehubov - with the top floors of one engulfed in flames. Psychologists were dispatched to treat people traumatised by Putin's latest strikes - which appeared to prioritise sowing terror among civilians Kyiv was also hit, as was Dnipropetrovsk region, where the weapons injured two pensioners, a man aged 73 and a woman, 66. In Donetsk, footage shows a Russian Gerber decoy drone was used as a strike weapon to slam into a residential building - triggering a giant explosion. As Ukraine turned to Europe - especially Germany - for urgent new help with its air defences, Donald Trump insisted he has not abandoned Kyiv. He said: 'I am helping Ukraine. I help a lot." 7 An explosion at a residential building from a Gerber decoy drone used as a strike weapon Credit: East2West 7 Trump also acknowledged the pounding that Ukraine is taking, despite his recent conversation with Putin. The President said: 'He [Zelensky] is being hit very hard - and I was very disappointed with my call with President Putin, I was very disappointed." Over the weekend, Trump said: "[Putin] wants to go all the way, just keep killing people, it's no good." US special envoy Keith Kellogg will fly to Europe to meet Zelensky this week. For its part, Ukraine hit warehouses at a chemical plant which produces ammunition and military-grade explosives for the Russian military machine. Repeated explosions were heard at the Krasnozavodsk site, some 55 miles northeast of the Kremlin. 7 Trump said he was 'very unhappy' with Putin 7 A fireman battles a blaze that has engulfed cars and buildings Credit: East2West The attack was carried out by Ukraine's new FP-1 one‑way kamikaze loitering strike drones, which support warheads of up to 120kg. Footage shows strikes at the strategic plant - the latest of dozens of Russian military factories to be hit by Ukraine. Ukraine is also believed to be behind major airport disruption in European Russia over the weekend and early today. Hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled amid concerns over drones. Problems continued at Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg today, after major Moscow hub Sheremetyevo was badly hit on Sunday.


Extra.ie
4 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Nato chief warns World War III will start with ‘simultaneous invasions'
NATO chief Mark Rutte has warned that World War III will start with simultaneous invasions from Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Combined attacks from the Chinese and Russian leaders could trigger a world war and bring the planet to the brink of Armageddon, according to the military alliance's secretary general. China would start by invading Taiwan while ensuring that the Kremlin dictator simultaneously attacks NATO territory, according to Mr Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister. NATO chief Mark Rutte has warned that World War III will start with simultaneous invasions from Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Pic:It comes amid fears that Putin has set his sights on the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which were formerly part of the USSR. Mr Rutte told The New York Times: 'Let's not be naive about this. If Xi Jinping would attack Taiwan, he would first make sure he makes a call to his very junior partner in all of this, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, residing in Moscow, and tell him, 'Hey, I'm going to do this, and I need you to keep them busy in Europe by attacking Nato territory'. 'That is most likely the way this will progress, and to deter them, we need to do two things. One is NATO, collectively, being so strong that the Russians will never do this. US President Donald Trump. Pic:'And second, working together with the Indo-Pacific – something President Donald Trump is very much promoting.' Mr Rutte warned that Putin is rearming at a fast pace. He also insisted that Western countries should increase their spending on defence. 'We have an enormous geopolitical challenge on our hands,' he said. 'And that is first of all Russia, which is reconstituting itself at a pace and a speed unparalleled in recent history. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Pic:'They are now producing three times as much ammunition in three months as the whole of NATO is doing in a year.' Mr Rutte stated that 'this is unsustainable' but added: 'The Russians are working together with the North Koreans, with the Chinese and Iranians, the mullahs, in fighting this unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. 'So here, the Indo-Pacific and your Atlantic are getting more and more interconnected. We know that China has its eye on Taiwan.'