Operations at 13 airports in southern Russia were temporarily suspended after a Ukrainian drone strike targeted a regional air navigation facility in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia’s Transport Ministry said on Friday.

According to the ministry, the strike hit the administrative building of the Air Navigation of Southern Russia branch, a regional centre responsible for managing air traffic across southern Russia.

The ministry said air traffic management operations in the region had been “temporarily adjusted” following the incident while authorities assess the operational status of equipment at the site. No casualties were reported, and personnel were safe, it added.

Airport operations were suspended at facilities in Astrakhan, Vladikavkaz, Volgograd, Gelendzhik, Grozny, Krasnodar, Makhachkala, Magas, Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Sochi, Stavropol, and Elista, the ministry said.

The suspensions are expected to disrupt domestic and regional air travel, particularly in southern Russia and the North Caucasus, though authorities did not specify when normal operations would resume.

The reported strike comes amid continuing cross-border drone attacks linked to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has increasingly affected infrastructure and transport networks in regions beyond the immediate frontline.

Russian authorities did not immediately provide details on the extent of the damage to the facility or possible flight diversions. Ukraine has not publicly commented on the incident.

Source: TASS