Latest news with #SheremetyevoInternationalAirport
UPI
a day ago
- Politics
- UPI
Russia faces intense barrage of drones, shutting down Moscow airports
Passengers wait for their flights at Sheremetyevo International Airport outside Moscow, Russia, on July 7, 2025. Photo by Yuri Kochetkov/EPA July 20 (UPI) -- Russia faced a penetrating barrage of drones from Ukraine over the weekend that caused Moscow airports to close amid the intensifying war. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a series of statements that between 7:45 a.m. local time on July 19 and 5:40 p.m. on July 20, its air defense systems reportedly shot down at least 272 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones across more than a dozen regions. The Bryansk region saw the heaviest concentration of drone activity, with 108 destroyed across eight separate reporting intervals. Kaluga followed with 55 intercepted drones, and Moscow region accounted for 46, including dozens reportedly flying toward the capital. Russian officials said drones were also intercepted over Tula, Kursk, Oryol, Smolensk, Belgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Tver, Ryazan, and Crimea. The most intense barrage occurred overnight, when 93 drones were downed between 11:30 p.m. and 7 a.m., including 16 reported to be heading for Moscow. The sustained and geographically dispersed attacks marked one of the highest-volume drone operations reported by Russian authorities to date. The drone strikes caused all four of Moscow's major airports to close and reopen about ten times in a 24-hour period from Saturday into Sunday, according to a statement from Russia's Association of Tour Operators, a nonprofit travel industry group. The airport in Kaluga remained mostly closed for 14 hours. The nonprofit, citing data from the airports, said that the closures led to 140 cancelled flights to and from the airports, particularly at Sheremetyevo International Airport - the busiest in Russia. The drone strikes and airport closures come after Ukraine launched more than 500 drones toward Russia in a 24-hour period, leaving at least 60,000 passengers stranded. In other parts of the war, Russia's Defense Ministry also claimed its forces made tactical advances across multiple fronts in Ukraine, including in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as part of its ongoing "special military operation." Russian officials said troops from its North, West, South, Center, East and Dnipro groupings inflicted heavy losses on Ukrainian brigades and destroyed key infrastructure and depots. According to the ministry, Russian units captured the village of Belaya Gora in Donetsk and targeted Ukrainian positions with airstrikes, artillery and drones in 148 areas. Moscow said Ukrainian forces lost more than 1,200 personnel, along with dozens of armored vehicles, artillery systems -- including U.S.-made Paladins -- and several electronic warfare stations. The air campaign coincides with an intensifying intelligence war between the two countries. Ukraine said earlier this month it killed two Russian agents accused of assassinating a Ukrainian colonel in Kyiv. Russia, in turn, claimed it had detained several Ukrainian operatives and prevented sabotage attacks.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Ukraine Launches Fresh Drone Attacks on Moscow
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ukraine launched renewed attacks on the Russian capital overnight into Sunday, according to Russian and Ukrainian sources, after Moscow doubled down on missile and drone strikes across Ukraine. Why It Matters Kyiv has occasionally targeted Moscow with long-range drone strikes, and launched a string of attacks on the Russian capital in recent days. Russia has intensified its own aerial assaults on the Ukrainian capital and many other regions of Ukraine in the past few weeks, despite U.S. efforts to secure a ceasefire deal and increasing frustration from U.S. President Donald Trump with Russia's President, Vladimir Putin. What To Know Moscow mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said Russian air defenses had destroyed 13 Ukrainian drones over Moscow, then quickly said another seven had been intercepted. A general view shows Terminal C of Sheremetyevo International Airport outside Moscow, Russia on July 6, 2025. This image was provided to AP directly by a third party and could not be independently verified. A general view shows Terminal C of Sheremetyevo International Airport outside Moscow, Russia on July 6, 2025. This image was provided to AP directly by a third party and could not be independently verified. Alexey Filippov / Sputnik via AP Russia's Defense Ministry said in its own statement that Ukraine had launched 93 drones at Russia between 11:30 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday and 7 a.m. local time on Sunday. A total of 19 Ukrainian drones flew over the broader Moscow region, with 16 heading directly for the Russian capital city, the Russian government said. The Defense Ministry later reported Ukraine had launched seven more drones over the Moscow region from just after 8 a.m. Moscow time to midday. A pro-Kremlin Telegram channel with purported links to Russian law enforcement reported a car "exploded after being hit by debris" from a Ukrainian drone in Zelenograd, on the northwestern edge of Moscow. The Baza Russian Telegram channel reported that debris from an intercepted drone had fallen on a multi-storey building in Zelenograd. Russian state media reported temporary restrictions were put in place at Sheremetyevo airport, east of Zelenograd, citing the country's federal air transport agency. Restrictions were also imposed on the Moscow airports of Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky, as well as Kaluga, southwest of Moscow, according to several Russian reports. A total of 134 flights were diverted over the weekend, a spokesperson for the Rosaviatsiya federal air transport agency said. "Moscow was attacked by UAVs [uncrewed aerial vehicles]," Andriy Kovalenko, an official with Ukraine's national security and defense council, said in a post to social media on Sunday. Kovalenko shared footage the Ukrainian official said showed passengers at Sheremetyevo, which Newsweek could not independently verify. Ukraine said on Sunday Russia had launched 57 drones at several regions of the war-torn country overnight, after reporting Moscow fired 344 drones at Ukraine into Saturday morning. Russia also used 12 short-range ballistic missiles and 15 cruise missiles from late on Friday into the early hours of Saturday, the Ukrainian air force said. U.S.-brokered efforts to push Moscow into a ceasefire deal have so far failed, and Trump told the BBC earlier this month he was "disappointed" in the Russian leader, but "not done with him." "We'll have a great conversation. I'll say: 'That's good, I'll think we're close to getting it done,' and then he'll knock down a building in Kyiv," Trump said. The Republican greenlit further U.S. weapons support for Ukraine via NATO nations last week, and said Russia had 50 days to clinch a ceasefire deal or face tariffs. Moscow said Ukraine saw this as a "signal to continue the war" and abandon peace talks. Western leaders and Ukraine have repeatedly said Russia is stalling ceasefire negotiations. The Financial Times reported on Tuesday Trump had asked Zelensky during a phone call earlier in July whether Ukraine could strike Moscow or the city of St Petersburg, if the U.S. furnished Ukraine with long-range weapons. Trump publicly told reporters Ukraine "shouldn't target Moscow." White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, appeared to acknowledge the remarks but described them as "wildly out of context." "President Trump was merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing," Leavitt said in a statement. "He's working tirelessly to stop the killing and end this war." What People Are Saying Moscow mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said on Sunday there were "no serious injuries or casualties" after a Ukrainian drone targeted Zelenograd, on the outskirts of Moscow.
Perth Now
25-06-2025
- Perth Now
Man's chilling admission after slamming toddler to the ground at airport
A man arrested after picking up and throwing a toddler head-first onto the floor at a Russian airport has confessed to trying to murder the child, saying he was on drugs at the time. Chilling footage shows the moment Vladimir Vitkov picked up 18-month-old Yazdan and slammed him onto the floor in the arrivals hall of Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport earlier this week. The child suffered serious skull fractures and was placed into a coma. Security footage shows the 31-year-old alleged attacker from Belarus lingering near the child, who was standing beside a suitcase. Vitkov appears to check his surroundings before suddenly seizing the toddler and throwing him with force onto the floor. It has been reported that Vitkov had been on the same flight as the toddler and his mother, who were fleeing bombing in Iran where they had been visiting family. Vitkov flew into Moscow from Egypt after being fired from a nuclear construction job when he failed a drug and alcohol test, The Mirror reported. When questioned by authorities after the incident he reportedly confessed, saying: 'I attempted to murder a child.' Vitkov could not provide a motive for his actions because he said he was 'under the influence of drugs'. According to Russian Investigative Committee reports, traces of cannabis were found in Vitkov's blood. Additional reports suggest he was also found in possession of illegal substances. Moscow Region Children's Ombudswoman Ksenia Mishonova condemned the assault, labelling Vitkov 'a drug-addled monster'. 'All this is incredibly difficult to bear,' she said. 'I hope the detained monster will receive the full severity of the law. I wish the child a speedy recovery. May the parents have the strength to survive this.' Mishonova provided an update on the child's heath, saying his brain was not damaged and that he was no longer in a coma. The Mirror reported a doctor at a children's hospital in Moscow said the child was admitted with a severe craniocerebral injury. 'He has an open fracture of the skull bones, a fracture of the base and vault of the skull, a subdural haematoma,' Dr Tatyana Shapovalenko said. The toddler remains in hospital as doctors assess his condition. — With The Nightly
7NEWS
25-06-2025
- 7NEWS
Man who slammed toddler to the ground at Moscow airport confesses to trying to murder the child
A man arrested after picking up and throwing a toddler head-first onto the floor at a Russian airport has confessed to trying to murder the child, saying he was on drugs at the time. Chilling footage shows the moment Vladimir Vitkov picked up 18-month-old Yazdan and slammed him onto the floor in the arrivals hall of Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport earlier this week. The child suffered serious skull fractures and was placed into a coma. Security footage shows the 31-year-old alleged attacker from Belarus lingering near the child, who was standing beside a suitcase. Vitkov appears to check his surroundings before suddenly seizing the toddler and throwing him with force onto the floor. It has been reported that Vitkov had been on the same flight as the toddler and his mother, who were fleeing bombing in Iran where they had been visiting family. Vitkov flew into Moscow from Egypt after being fired from a nuclear construction job when he failed a drug and alcohol test, The Mirror reported. When questioned by authorities after the incident he reportedly confessed, saying: 'I attempted to murder a child.' Vitkov could not provide a motive for his actions because he said he was 'under the influence of drugs'. According to Russian Investigative Committee reports, traces of cannabis were found in Vitkov's blood. Additional reports suggest he was also found in possession of illegal substances. Moscow Region Children's Ombudswoman Ksenia Mishonova condemned the assault, labelling Vitkov 'a drug-addled monster'. 'All this is incredibly difficult to bear,' she said. 'I hope the detained monster will receive the full severity of the law. I wish the child a speedy recovery. May the parents have the strength to survive this.' Mishonova provided an update on the child's heath, saying his brain was not damaged and that he was no longer in a coma. The Mirror reported a doctor at a children's hospital in Moscow said the child was admitted with a severe craniocerebral injury. 'He has an open fracture of the skull bones, a fracture of the base and vault of the skull, a subdural haematoma,' Dr Tatyana Shapovalenko said. The toddler remains in hospital as doctors assess his condition.
Economic Times
25-06-2025
- Economic Times
Watch: Toddler in coma after being slammed on floor by tourist at Moscow airport; Child had fled Iran with pregnant mother
The suspect can be seen in the CCTV footage just before he slammed the kid on ground A horrifying incident at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport has left an 18-month-old boy in a coma after he was violently slammed to the ground by a tourist. The child had just arrived in Russia with his pregnant mother, fleeing conflict in Iran via Afghanistan. The attacker, identified as 31-year-old Vladimir Vitkov from Belarus, was caught on CCTV footage in the arrivals hall. In the video, Vitkov is seen glancing around before suddenly grabbing the toddler—who stood beside a suitcase—and throwing him headfirst onto the hard airport floor. The boy, who suffered a fractured skull and spinal injuries, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. His mother was reportedly just meters away, collecting the child's pushchair, when the assault took place. Witnesses quickly intervened, stopping Vitkov and alerting officials have launched an attempted murder investigation, also probing potential motives, including racial hatred and drug influence. Traces of cannabis were found in Vitkov's system, and additional drugs were reportedly discovered on him. During questioning, Vitkov vaguely admitted to past legal troubles, saying, 'I made mistakes like that.'Vitkov's female travel companion was reportedly in shock, and disturbing reports say he has a daughter around the same age as the victim. The attack has sparked global outrage. dMeanwhile, Moscow Region Children's Ombudswoman Ksenia Mishonova told The Sun: 'A drug-addled monster grabbed a toddler in the arrivals hall and threw him on the floor with all his might….All this is incredibly difficult to bear. I hope the detained monster will receive the full severity of the law. I wish the child a speedy recovery. May the parents have the strength to survive this.'The case has triggered intense debate on airport security, mental health screening, and the vulnerability of refugee families. With over 40 million passengers annually, Sheremetyevo is Russia's busiest airport—now under scrutiny for one of its most chilling footage: The video is quite graphic and hence readers are advised caution. — LASHYBILLS (@LASHYBILLS)
