Russia cancels drone operators' summit over fears of Ukrainian attack
Photo: Ukrainian serviceman with a Leleka drone (Getty Images)
In Veliky Novgorod, Russia, the Dronnitsa gathering of drone operators has been postponed indefinitely. Russians were deeply concerned about Ukrainian UAVs, according to Current Time.
Russia fears Ukrainian drones
The Dronnitsa-2026 gathering of combat unmanned systems operators, scheduled for the end of August, will not take place.
It was reported that the "analytical center of the Coordination Center for Assistance to Novorossiya" received information on the Ukrainian Armed Forces' plans to strike the event while it was underway.
The organizers claim that the Ukrainian attack could be a combined strike. Alongside drones, it would allegedly involve new ballistic capabilities and "bio-drones."
The Russians therefore canceled the gathering, saying they did not want to divert large numbers of air defense and security personnel to protect Dronnitsa, because it could temporarily leave facilities and enterprises in Novgorod and neighboring regions without protection.
Ukraine’s strikes on Russia
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that four Russian warships in Novorossiysk sustained damage of various degrees of severity overnight on August 12. Ukraine struck the Russian naval base there.
Ukrainian drones also struck a relay station used to control Geran drones in Crimea, as well as other important Russian facilities in occupied territories.
It was also reported that powerful explosions were heard in temporarily occupied Sevastopol overnight on August 12 as Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out another drone attack.
In addition, three waves of drones attacked Nizhny Novgorod overnight on April 5. Witnesses reported more than 20 explosions, fires and widespread power outages.
