Ukrainian drone attacks for the second day in a row severely disrupted flights throughout Russia, with the largest airports serving Moscow and St. Petersburg among those forced to restrict activity throughout July 6.
Russia’s Transport Ministry said some 400 flights were canceled by 6 p.m. Moscow time because of “restrictions introduced to ensure flight safety” and it urged passengers to consider train travel instead.
“As of 6 p.m. Moscow time, 171 flights were canceled at Sheremetyevo [Airport] for arrival and departure. Fifty-Six flights remain delayed -- for more than two hours -- awaiting departure,” the ministry said.
At Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, it said 90 departing and arriving flights were canceled, with another 37 delayed for at least two hours.
“It should be noted that there is a developed railway connection between St. Petersburg and Moscow. Tickets are available in both directions: both for long-distance and high-speed trains,” it added.
The ministry also said that flights were suspended at airports in Ivanovo, Kaluga, Kirov, Pskov, and Tambov.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 7 dismissed Transport Minister Roman Starovoit and appointed Andrei Nikitin, Deputy Transport Minister and former Governor of the Novgorod Region, as acting head of the ministry.
No reason was given for the dismissal and some local media reports said preparations for replacing Starovoit had been underway for several months. However, these reports have not been officially confirmed.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said six Ukrainian drones were shot down as they approached the capital, but he did not offer details on any possible damage. Drones were also reported shot down near St. Petersburg and Kaluga by local authorities.
Belgorod region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said Ukrainian drones had injured two civilians near the border area.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it shot down 91 Ukrainian drones overnight. According to the ministry, the largest numbers were intercepted over Belgorod (20), Kursk (14), and Lipetsk (9) regions.
In Russia's Krasnodar region, drone debris fell on the territory of the Ilsky Oil Refinery, but no damage or fire was reported, while in Bryansk region, a woman was injured in a drone strike in the Klimovsky district.
In the Moscow region, residents of Sergiyev Posad and Krasnozavodsk reported hearing up to 10 explosions. Ukrainian sources, including the Exilenova+ Telegram channel and Ukrainian government officials, claimed the Krasnozavodsk Chemical Plant was the target. The facility is known to produce explosives, gunpowder, and munitions components.
Attacks went both ways early on July 7, with Russia again pounding several parts of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Air Force said on July 7 that Russia deployed 101 unmanned aerial vehicles, including Shahed drones and decoy drones, along with four S-300/400 surface-to-air missiles.
By 9:30 a.m. local time, Ukraine’s air defense forces had neutralized 75 Russian drones—58 shot down by firepower and 17 suppressed by electronic warfare systems, it said.
Despite these efforts, Ukrainian military officials confirmed that strike drones hit 10 locations, with debris falling in seven more.
In Ukraine's Black Sea port city of Odesa, a Russian drone attack caused severe damage.
According to Odesa regional military administration head Oleh Kiper, civilian infrastructure was damaged, including a car repair shop and several vehicles.
A security guard was killed when a fire broke out in a security booth near a construction site. Emergency services also confirmed additional casualties in Odesa.
In Kharkiv, 27 people, including three children, were injured as a result of drone attacks early in the morning on July 7. Fires broke out in apartments in the Shevchenko district.
Kyiv was also targeted, but no casualties were reported. However, damage was recorded in three city districts. Drone debris struck a large-diameter heating pipeline, vehicles, building facades, and windows.
The Ukrainian government and international observers maintain that Russia is deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, hospitals, power systems, and water facilities. Moscow denies targeting civilian areas, despite widespread proof of such attacks since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
