Airports reopen following Ukrainian drone attack in Kazan, Russia via Reuters
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The airport in the Russian city of Kazan reopened on Saturday after being temporarily closed in the morning following a Ukrainian drone attack, Russian air traffic controllers said.
Russian state news agencies reported drone attacks on a residential area and other areas in Kazan, about 800 kilometers east of Moscow.
The Ministry of Defense said the city was hit by three waves of drones between 7:40 am and 9:20 am (0440 and 0620 GMT). It said that three drones were destroyed by air defense systems and the other three were destroyed by electronic warfare systems.
No casualties were reported, the agencies said, citing local authorities. The mayor of Kazan said on Telegram that all major events planned in the city will be canceled over the weekend and that the authorities will provide temporary accommodation for those who leave.
The Baza Telegram channel, which is close to the Russian security services, published unverified video footage showing an aerial object crashing into a high-rise building, producing a large fireball.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the attack, saying that Ukraine was “venting its anger at the real military defeat of the peaceful Russian people”.
Airports in Izhevsk, a small city northeast of Kazan, and Saratov, 650 kilometers south of Kazan, also temporarily suspended arrivals and departures, Russian aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said via Telegram.
Restrictions on airports were also lifted, Rosaviatsia said.
