Putin accuses Ukraine of terrorism after drone strike on Rostov
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin called the drone attack on an aviation center in Rostov an act of terrorism, TASS reports.
The Russian President convened an emergency meeting of Russia’s Security Council, during which he commented on the strike targeting the Rostov Regional Air Traffic Management Center.
Putin described Ukraine’s actions as "an act of terrorism."
According to the Russian leader, an attack on such a facility could have directly affected the safety of civilian aviation in the region. Despite claims of a serious threat, the Kremlin chief insisted that "no tragic events occurred."
What happened earlier
Earlier on May 8, Russian officials reported a drone strike on the administrative building of the Air Navigation of the Southern Russia branch in Rostov-on-Don. As a result, more than 80 flights were delayed or canceled, while at least 14,000 passengers were stranded in airport waiting areas.
Airlines were instructed to use trains and buses to transport passengers. Later, Russia’s aviation authority Rosaviatsia announced that airports would remain closed until May 12, although this timeline could still change.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the number of mid-range strikes at distances exceeding 20 kilometers had doubled last month compared to March and quadrupled compared to February.
RBC-Ukraine also reported that Ukraine’s Defense Forces carried out large-scale strikes on strategic targets in Russia and occupied territories, including an oil refinery in Yaroslavl, fuel depots, and air defense systems.
