The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, revealed that Ukraine plans to intensify its drone presence near Russian airports to paralyze them and force them to close.
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According to Ukrainian and Western officials and military leaders, the plan, dubbed "Operation Carpet," relies on sending massive swarms of drones to circle air corridors near airports, forcing Russian air traffic control systems to automatically suspend takeoffs and landings for safety reasons.
The ultimate goal, according to the newspaper, is to transform temporary closures into complete and permanent closures that paralyze air traffic in the European part of Russia, without directly targeting civilian aircraft.
A Ukrainian military official said the plan comes in response to escalating and intensified Russian air and missile strikes targeting Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
The report coincided with a warning issued by outgoing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to international airlines and insurance companies, stressing that "Russian airspace has become completely unsafe," and calling on them to reassess the risks and avoid using major airports, particularly in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Navigation data cited by the newspaper showed that about 16,000 Ukrainian drones crossed Russian airspace last month alone, while military experts believe that effectively implementing the plan may require sending up to 1,000 AI-guided drones per night towards the airports of the Russian capital and its surroundings to keep them closed for long periods.
A Ukrainian official told the newspaper that "our plan to close airports in Russia and paralyze civil and commercial air traffic comes in response to the escalating pace of its attacks on Ukraine."
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that Ukraine was shelling purely civilian targets on Russian territory, which forced Russia to respond in kind.
Earlier, Putin asserted that the damage Ukraine had inflicted on Russia was "not critical ," and that Kyiv was incapable of delivering a substantial blow to Moscow.
Regarding the situation on the line of contact, Putin said that "its dynamics are clear to everyone," adding that "Russian forces are advancing daily on all axes of the front, at a faster pace in some places and slower in others."
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump expressed his belief that his administration is capable of ending the conflict in Ukraine, while Putin confirmed that contacts with the US administration are ongoing, expressing his hope that they will lead to positive results.
