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Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city
Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city

The Irish Sun

timea day ago

  • Politics
  • The Irish Sun

Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city

UKRAINE unleashed chaos at Moscow's four airports with a fourth successive drone blitz rocking the city. Hundreds of passenger planes had to be diverted as waves of flying bombs converged on the Russian capital. Advertisement 8 The moment of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on Saturday Credit: East2West 8 Ukrainian drone attack disrupted four Moscow airports Credit: East2West 8 Stranded passengers at Sheremetyevo airport, Moscow Credit: East2West 8 Footage captured the moment a Ukrainian drone was downed in Zelenograd, Moscow region Credit: East2West Footage showed explosions as Russian air defences attacked incoming unmanned planes in Zelenograd, a district 23 miles northwest of the Kremlin. Ukraine has stepped up assaults since Donald Trump reportedly told Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky it was Russia's defence ministry claimed to have downed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight across nine regions - 19 of them over the Moscow area alone. Authorities were forced to twice close airspace over Moscow, hitting airports Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky. Advertisement Read more on Ukraine war A total of 134 planes were diverted, as confusion and frustration gripped passengers caught up in the escalating fallout of the war. State airline Aeroflot was forced to adjust its schedule, while regional airports in Kaluga, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod were also thrown into disarray. Frustrated passengers - including tourists on summer vacations - were hit by delays, diverted flights and numerous cancellations in an apparent new tactic by Ukraine to paralyse air travel in Vladimir Putin's capital. Passengers — many travelling for summer vacations — were left bedding down on the airport floor. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Exclusive 'The restrictions are necessary for ensuring the safety of civil aircraft flights,' announced Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. In Zelenograd, a district on the northwestern edge of Moscow, explosions were heard as air defences intercepted drones. 'Really p****d' Trump gives Putin 50-day ultimatum as he unveils major plan Debris sparked fires that damaged buildings and set vehicles alight, according to local reports. In nearby Golube, residents described powerful blasts that shattered windows and shook homes, Advertisement While Russian officials claimed success in intercepting the majority of drones, the repeated closures of Moscow's airspace suggest Ukraine is successfully placing pressure on the capital - targeting not just military assets but the daily functioning of civilian infrastructure. In a separate blow, anti-Kremlin partisan group Atesh claimed responsibility for sabotage on a key rail line in Tula region. They set fire to a relay cabinet, causing what the group described as 'serious disruptions in railway communication'. Atesh said the attack had critically crippled the movement of weapons and military gear from key defence factories. Advertisement It was a hammer blow to Putin's logistics — and a taste of the chaos Ukraine and its allies are now willing to unleash. Elsewhere, drone strikes were reported on Russian-occupied Donetsk, with footage showing what appeared to be an attack near a regional trauma hospital. In Ukrainian-held Sloviansk, one person was killed in a Russian drone strike. The Kremlin continued its own strikes in response, targeting the Sumy region in Ukraine's northeast after scoffing at Advertisement A 78-year-old woman was killed in Shostka, close to the Russian border, while in the Zaporizhzhia region a 69-year-old woman was wounded in another attack. Putin's war machine, ever indiscriminate, continues its campaign of terror against civilians. 8 The aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on July 19 Credit: East2West 8 Explosion of a Geran-2 drone next to a Yak-52 aircraft that was acting as an interceptor Credit: East2West Advertisement 8 Shostka in Sumy region, Ukraine, was attacked with drones and aerial bombs on Saturday Credit: East2West The Russian Defence Ministry, desperate to project strength, released footage of a MiG-31K jet launching a hypersonic Kinzhal missile, a menacing display as the Kremlin signals no intent to back down. And in a chilling twist, a Russian Shahed drone exploded dangerously close to a Yak-52 aircraft used as an interceptor. Despite Moscow's bluster, president Zelensky continues to push for peace - on Ukraine's terms. Advertisement 'The pace of negotiations must be increased. Everything must be done to achieve a ceasefire,' he said. 'And the Russian side must stop hiding from decisions. 'Prisoner exchanges. Return of children. End to the killings. 'And a meeting at the level of leaders is needed to truly ensure peace – a really lasting one. Ukraine is ready for such a meeting.' Advertisement But Kremlin is showing no signs of backing down. According to German General Christian Fröding, Russia is now preparing to swarm 2,000 drones at Ukraine, launching them simultaneously to try to overwhelm its defences. He warned of growing Chinese support behind the scenes. 'The current situation is such that China is effectively exporting exclusively to Russia, while Ukraine is excluded from this market,' Fröding said. Advertisement And while Kyiv has not officially commented on its role in the latest strikes, officials have repeatedly insisted that 'Ukraine consistently adheres to international humanitarian law and targets only legitimate military objectives.' According to Ukraine's military: 'All actions by the Armed Forces of Ukraine are conducted in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, with a clear distinction made between civilian and military targets.' 8 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference as part of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, Italy Credit: Getty

Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city
Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city

Scottish Sun

timea day ago

  • Politics
  • Scottish Sun

Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) UKRAINE unleashed chaos at Moscow's four airports with a fourth successive drone blitz rocking the city. Hundreds of passenger planes had to be diverted as waves of flying bombs converged on the Russian capital. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 The moment of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on Saturday Credit: East2West 8 Ukrainian drone attack disrupted four Moscow airports Credit: East2West 8 Stranded passengers at Sheremetyevo airport, Moscow Credit: East2West 8 Footage captured the moment a Ukrainian drone was downed in Zelenograd, Moscow region Credit: East2West Footage showed explosions as Russian air defences attacked incoming unmanned planes in Zelenograd, a district 23 miles northwest of the Kremlin. Ukraine has stepped up assaults since Donald Trump reportedly told Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky it was time to make Russians feel 'the pain' of war. Russia's defence ministry claimed to have downed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight across nine regions - 19 of them over the Moscow area alone. Authorities were forced to twice close airspace over Moscow, hitting airports Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky. A total of 134 planes were diverted, as confusion and frustration gripped passengers caught up in the escalating fallout of the war. State airline Aeroflot was forced to adjust its schedule, while regional airports in Kaluga, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod were also thrown into disarray. Frustrated passengers - including tourists on summer vacations - were hit by delays, diverted flights and numerous cancellations in an apparent new tactic by Ukraine to paralyse air travel in Vladimir Putin's capital. Passengers — many travelling for summer vacations — were left bedding down on the airport floor. 'The restrictions are necessary for ensuring the safety of civil aircraft flights,' announced Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. In Zelenograd, a district on the northwestern edge of Moscow, explosions were heard as air defences intercepted drones. 'Really p****d' Trump gives Putin 50-day ultimatum as he unveils major plan Debris sparked fires that damaged buildings and set vehicles alight, according to local reports. In nearby Golube, residents described powerful blasts that shattered windows and shook homes, The Kyiv Post reported. While Russian officials claimed success in intercepting the majority of drones, the repeated closures of Moscow's airspace suggest Ukraine is successfully placing pressure on the capital - targeting not just military assets but the daily functioning of civilian infrastructure. In a separate blow, anti-Kremlin partisan group Atesh claimed responsibility for sabotage on a key rail line in Tula region. They set fire to a relay cabinet, causing what the group described as 'serious disruptions in railway communication'. Atesh said the attack had critically crippled the movement of weapons and military gear from key defence factories. It was a hammer blow to Putin's logistics — and a taste of the chaos Ukraine and its allies are now willing to unleash. Elsewhere, drone strikes were reported on Russian-occupied Donetsk, with footage showing what appeared to be an attack near a regional trauma hospital. In Ukrainian-held Sloviansk, one person was killed in a Russian drone strike. The Kremlin continued its own strikes in response, targeting the Sumy region in Ukraine's northeast after scoffing at Trump's 50-day peace ultimatum. A 78-year-old woman was killed in Shostka, close to the Russian border, while in the Zaporizhzhia region a 69-year-old woman was wounded in another attack. Putin's war machine, ever indiscriminate, continues its campaign of terror against civilians. 8 The aftermath of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian-occupied Donetsk region on July 19 Credit: East2West 8 Explosion of a Geran-2 drone next to a Yak-52 aircraft that was acting as an interceptor Credit: East2West 8 Shostka in Sumy region, Ukraine, was attacked with drones and aerial bombs on Saturday Credit: East2West The Russian Defence Ministry, desperate to project strength, released footage of a MiG-31K jet launching a hypersonic Kinzhal missile, a menacing display as the Kremlin signals no intent to back down. And in a chilling twist, a Russian Shahed drone exploded dangerously close to a Yak-52 aircraft used as an interceptor. Despite Moscow's bluster, president Zelensky continues to push for peace - on Ukraine's terms. 'The pace of negotiations must be increased. Everything must be done to achieve a ceasefire,' he said. 'And the Russian side must stop hiding from decisions. 'Prisoner exchanges. Return of children. End to the killings. 'And a meeting at the level of leaders is needed to truly ensure peace – a really lasting one. Ukraine is ready for such a meeting.' But Kremlin is showing no signs of backing down. According to German General Christian Fröding, Russia is now preparing to swarm 2,000 drones at Ukraine, launching them simultaneously to try to overwhelm its defences. He warned of growing Chinese support behind the scenes. 'The current situation is such that China is effectively exporting exclusively to Russia, while Ukraine is excluded from this market,' Fröding said. And while Kyiv has not officially commented on its role in the latest strikes, officials have repeatedly insisted that 'Ukraine consistently adheres to international humanitarian law and targets only legitimate military objectives.' According to Ukraine's military: 'All actions by the Armed Forces of Ukraine are conducted in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, with a clear distinction made between civilian and military targets.'

Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city
Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city

The Sun

timea day ago

  • Politics
  • The Sun

Four Moscow airports shut as Ukraine blasts capital with massive drone blitz for fourth night as explosions rock city

UKRAINE unleashed chaos at Moscow's four airports with a fourth successive drone blitz rocking the city. Hundreds of passenger planes had to be diverted as waves of flying bombs converged on the Russian capital. 8 8 8 8 Footage showed explosions as Russian air defences attacked incoming unmanned planes in Zelenograd, a district 23 miles northwest of the Kremlin. Ukraine has stepped up assaults since Donald Trump reportedly told Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky it was time to make Russians feel 'the pain' of war. Russia's defence ministry claimed to have downed 93 Ukrainian drones overnight across nine regions - 19 of them over the Moscow area alone. Authorities were forced to twice close airspace over Moscow, hitting airports Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky. A total of 134 planes were diverted, as confusion and frustration gripped passengers caught up in the escalating fallout of the war. State airline Aeroflot was forced to adjust its schedule, while regional airports in Kaluga, Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod were also thrown into disarray. Frustrated passengers - including tourists on summer vacations - were hit by delays, diverted flights and numerous cancellations in an apparent new tactic by Ukraine to paralyse air travel in Vladimir Putin's capital. Passengers — many travelling for summer vacations — were left bedding down on the airport floor. 'The restrictions are necessary for ensuring the safety of civil aircraft flights,' announced Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. In Zelenograd, a district on the northwestern edge of Moscow, explosions were heard as air defences intercepted drones. Debris sparked fires that damaged buildings and set vehicles alight, according to local reports. In nearby Golube, residents described powerful blasts that shattered windows and shook homes, The Kyiv Post reported. While Russian officials claimed success in intercepting the majority of drones, the repeated closures of Moscow's airspace suggest Ukraine is successfully placing pressure on the capital - targeting not just military assets but the daily functioning of civilian infrastructure. In a separate blow, anti-Kremlin partisan group Atesh claimed responsibility for sabotage on a key rail line in Tula region. They set fire to a relay cabinet, causing what the group described as 'serious disruptions in railway communication'. Atesh said the attack had critically crippled the movement of weapons and military gear from key defence factories. It was a hammer blow to Putin's logistics — and a taste of the chaos Ukraine and its allies are now willing to unleash. Elsewhere, drone strikes were reported on Russian-occupied Donetsk, with footage showing what appeared to be an attack near a regional trauma hospital. In Ukrainian-held Sloviansk, one person was killed in a Russian drone strike. The Kremlin continued its own strikes in response, targeting the Sumy region in Ukraine's northeast after scoffing at Trump's 50-day peace ultimatum. A 78-year-old woman was killed in Shostka, close to the Russian border, while in the Zaporizhzhia region a 69-year-old woman was wounded in another attack. Putin's war machine, ever indiscriminate, continues its campaign of terror against civilians. 8 8 8 The Russian Defence Ministry, desperate to project strength, released footage of a MiG-31K jet launching a hypersonic Kinzhal missile, a menacing display as the Kremlin signals no intent to back down. And in a chilling twist, a Russian Shahed drone exploded dangerously close to a Yak-52 aircraft used as an interceptor. Despite Moscow's bluster, president Zelensky continues to push for peace - on Ukraine's terms. 'The pace of negotiations must be increased. Everything must be done to achieve a ceasefire,' he said. 'And the Russian side must stop hiding from decisions. 'Prisoner exchanges. Return of children. End to the killings. 'And a meeting at the level of leaders is needed to truly ensure peace – a really lasting one. Ukraine is ready for such a meeting.' But Kremlin is showing no signs of backing down. According to German General Christian Fröding, Russia is now preparing to swarm 2,000 drones at Ukraine, launching them simultaneously to try to overwhelm its defences. He warned of growing Chinese support behind the scenes. 'The current situation is such that China is effectively exporting exclusively to Russia, while Ukraine is excluded from this market,' Fröding said. And while Kyiv has not officially commented on its role in the latest strikes, officials have repeatedly insisted that 'Ukraine consistently adheres to international humanitarian law and targets only legitimate military objectives.' According to Ukraine's military: 'All actions by the Armed Forces of Ukraine are conducted in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, with a clear distinction made between civilian and military targets.' 8

Russian drone pierced Chernobyl nuclear plant's radiation shield, says Zelensky
Russian drone pierced Chernobyl nuclear plant's radiation shield, says Zelensky

The Independent

time14-02-2025

  • Politics
  • The Independent

Russian drone pierced Chernobyl nuclear plant's radiation shield, says Zelensky

A drone armed with a warhead hit the protective outer shell of Ukraine 's Chernobyl nuclear plant early on Friday, punching a hole in the structure and briefly starting a fire, in an attack Kyiv blamed on Russia. The Kremlin denied it was responsible. Radiation levels at the shuttered plant in the Kyiv region — site of the world's worst nuclear accident — have not increased, according to the UN International Atomic Energy Agency, which said the strike did not breach the plant's inner containment shell. The incident came as leaders gathered at the Munich Security Conference to discuss the war in Ukraine. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, accused Ukraine's president Volodymr Zelensky of orchestrating a drone attack to coincide with the Munich event as part of a lobbying effort to secure more weapons and money from the West. Fighting around nuclear power plants has repeatedly raised fears of a nuclear catastrophe during three years of war, particularly in a country where many vividly remember the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, which killed at least 30 people and spewed radioactive fallout over much of the northern hemisphere. The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is Europe's biggest, has occasionally been hit by drones during the war without causing significant damage. Chernobyl's last working reactor shut in 2000. Early in its invasion of Ukraine, Russia occupied the plant and the surrounding area for more than a month as it attempted to capture Kyiv. Friday's drone struck the radiation shelter, causing a fire that was then extinguished, Zelensky wrote on Telegram. 'According to initial assessments, the damage to the shelter is significant,' he said. The strike came two days after President Donald Trump upended US policy on Ukraine, saying he would meet Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war. It also came as Ukraine is being slowly pushed back by Russia's bigger army along parts of the 600-mile front line and is desperately seeking more Western help. The Ukrainian Emergency Service provided a photograph that showed a hole in the roof of the outer shield, which is a massive steel-and-concrete structure weighing some 40,000 tons (36,000 metric tons) and tall enough to fit Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral inside. There was "no immediate danger" to the facility or risk of radioactive leaks, according to Oleksandr Kharchenko, director of the Kyiv-based Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air. 'The protective structure is strong and reliable, though it has been damaged,' he told The Associated Press. Ukraine's SBU security service showed pictures of what it said was the drone, which it said had been carrying a high-explosive warhead. It said the drone was a Geran-2, the Russian name for the Iranian-designed Shahed-136, and had been intended to hit the reactor enclosure. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Russia was responsible. 'There is no talk about strikes on nuclear infrastructure, nuclear energy facilities. Any such claim isn't true. Our military doesn't do that,' he said. It was not possible to independently confirm who was behind the strike. Both sides frequently trade blame when nuclear sites come under attack. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the strike and the recent increase in military activity near Zaporizhzhia 'underline persistent nuclear safety risks,' adding that the IAEA remains 'on high alert.' In his Telegram post, Zelensky added: 'The only state in the world that can attack such facilities, occupy the territory of nuclear power plants, and conduct hostilities without any regard for the consequences is today's Russia. And this is a terrorist threat to the entire world. Russia must be held accountable for what it is doing.'

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