Ukraine’s Covert Strategy: Targeting Russia’s Airports to Weaken Moscow from Within
For over a year, Ukraine has been actively evolving its military tactics in its ongoing conflict with Russia, shifting from a primarily defensive posture to a combination of offensive and defensive operations. While much of the international focus has been on Ukraine’s attacks targeting Russian infrastructure and energy facilities—aimed at weakening Vladimir Putin’s military machine—there is a lesser-known but increasingly significant front: Ukraine’s clandestine campaign against Moscow’s airports.
According to recent reports, Ukraine has launched a series of aerial strikes targeting Russia’s airports, with hundreds of drones flying toward Moscow in recent weeks. Unlike past attacks that focused on specific military or industrial sites, these new drone operations are less about causing direct physical damage and more about crippling Russia’s air transport capabilities.
Between January 1 and May 14, 2025, Russia has been compelled to temporarily suspend operations at approximately 217 airports, an unprecedented level of disruption. On average, nearly 50 airports have been closed each month, causing significant chaos for both military logistics and civilian travelers. Such frequent closures represent an escalation in Ukraine’s aerial campaign, signaling a strategic shift from targeted infrastructure strikes to widespread airport shutdowns.
Experts and Ukrainian officials emphasize that these drone operations serve a vital purpose. Serhii Bratchuk, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces, explains that Moscow’s airports are the backbone of Russian internal and international air travel. Disabling them weakens Moscow’s control over its vast regions and undermines internal cohesion.
“Reducing Russia’s ability to fly creates a new form of pressure—disrupting logistics, sapping morale, and destabilizing the Russian regions,” Bratchuk states. The goal is to erode the internal stability that supports Putin’s war effort without engaging in direct conflict with other nations or risking collateral damage involving high-profile foreign leaders present during events like Victory Day.
Ukraine’s tactic during the buildup to key moments—such as Russia’s Victory Day parade on May 9—is especially telling. Though Ukraine refrained from directly attacking the parade to avoid unintended casualties among international dignitaries like China's President Xi Jinping, it launched hundreds of drones against Moscow’s airports instead.
This maneuver served multiple purposes: it prevented large-scale Russian military displays, disrupted international travel, and prevented the deployment of Russian military reinforcements. The drone assaults caused approximately 60,000 passengers’ travel plans to be canceled or delayed, not to mention widespread internet outages and chaos across regions such as Oryol.
In subsequent weeks, Ukraine continued this strategy aggressively, with attacks involving nearly 500 drones over a three-day period in late May, resulting in even more disruptions to Moscow’s air operations, along with damaging the country’s internal connectivity. These strikes have not only caused logistical headaches but also psychological impacts, sowing doubt and frustration within Russian society.
Bratchuk emphasizes that these operations aim to exert pressure on Russian civilians, not just military targets. The disruptions suggest an attempt to chip away at public morale and regional stability, which may support Ukraine’s broader goal of weakening Putin’s grip on power. Despite high approval ratings for Putin—hovering around 87% in April 2025—there are signs of cracks forming within Russian public opinion. Polls show fluctuating support levels between 60% and 70%, reflecting growing unease and dissent.
The disruption of air travel potentially fosters regional discontent and feelings of isolation among Russia’s diverse territories. With transport and communication channels hampered, regions may feel increasingly disconnected from Moscow’s authority, thus increasing internal unrest.
Beyond morale, these airport closures inflict economic damage. Disrupted flights lead to canceled bookings, increased operational costs for airlines, and losses for airports—all contributing to a broader economic strain on Russia. Tourism, a significant income source—from nearly 9.5 million tourists in 2024 spending billions—faces a notable threat as the chaos reduces Russia’s attractiveness as a vacation destination.
Ukraine’s strategy appears designed not just to drain Russia’s economic resources but also to influence public perception. By instilling uncertainty about safe travel and reliable logistics, it seeks to diminish Russia’s appeal for tourists and business travelers alike, thereby cutting off a vital revenue stream and further pressuring the Russian economy to fund its war efforts.
The Operational Challenge for Russia’s Air Defense
Ukraine’s continuous drone campaigns force Russia into a state of perpetual alertness, particularly through operations like Operation Kovyor (“Carpet Plan”). Under this protocol, Russian airports are ordered to shut down immediately when drone activity is suspected, with all aircraft on the ground instructed to remain stationed or divert to safer zones. Since November 2023, this plan has been active at 37 civilian airports, prioritizing civilian safety but also tying up air defense systems.
Ironically, this relentless drone threat stretches Russia’s increasingly strained air defense capabilities. Moscow’s layered air defense network, once a formidable barrier, now faces internal bottlenecks, with production delays and reliance on outdated systems such as the S-400 and S-500. Ukraine’s persistent assaults force Russia to divert valuable resources toward protecting its airports, reducing available defenses for military targets and further diminishing the overall effectiveness of Russia’s aerial shield.
Strategic Implications and Future Prospects
Ukraine’s escalating airport attacks serve multiple strategic purposes. They simultaneously:
Bring the war directly to Russian territory without engaging in direct military confrontations.
Bratchuk suggests that further expansion of this tactic could enable Ukraine to more effectively target military infrastructure within Russia, including military airfields, oil refineries, and armories. As Ukraine prepares to build an arsenal of 30,000 long-range drones in 2025, the potential for broader and more impactful strikes grows.
Meanwhile, Putin faces a dilemma. He must allocate his limited aerial defense resources between protecting military objectives and defending against the drone interdiction campaign. The persistent pressure risks spreading Russia’s defenses thin, possibly opening opportunities for Ukraine to escalate strikes or target strategic military sites more effectively.
Conclusion: A War of Logistics, Morale, and Psychological Warfare
Ukraine’s targeted disruption of Russia’s airports exemplifies a clever and asymmetrical approach to warfare—one that leverages technological advantages and strategic patience. By focusing on infrastructure that facilitates internal connectivity and economic stability, Ukraine aims to weaken Russia from within, avoiding direct military confrontations where risks are higher.
As the conflict stretches into 2025, Ukraine’s airport strategy illustrates an ongoing effort to shift the battlefield from traditional combat zones into the realm of psychological and economic warfare. Whether this approach will hasten Russia’s internal collapse or provoke a more aggressive Russian response remains an open question. Nonetheless, it highlights the evolving nature of modern warfare—where victory is often determined not just on the battlefield, but in the shadows behind the lines.
Part 1/14:
Ukraine’s Covert Strategy: Targeting Russia’s Airports to Weaken Moscow from Within
For over a year, Ukraine has been actively evolving its military tactics in its ongoing conflict with Russia, shifting from a primarily defensive posture to a combination of offensive and defensive operations. While much of the international focus has been on Ukraine’s attacks targeting Russian infrastructure and energy facilities—aimed at weakening Vladimir Putin’s military machine—there is a lesser-known but increasingly significant front: Ukraine’s clandestine campaign against Moscow’s airports.
The Hidden War on Moscow’s Airports
Part 2/14:
According to recent reports, Ukraine has launched a series of aerial strikes targeting Russia’s airports, with hundreds of drones flying toward Moscow in recent weeks. Unlike past attacks that focused on specific military or industrial sites, these new drone operations are less about causing direct physical damage and more about crippling Russia’s air transport capabilities.
Part 3/14:
Between January 1 and May 14, 2025, Russia has been compelled to temporarily suspend operations at approximately 217 airports, an unprecedented level of disruption. On average, nearly 50 airports have been closed each month, causing significant chaos for both military logistics and civilian travelers. Such frequent closures represent an escalation in Ukraine’s aerial campaign, signaling a strategic shift from targeted infrastructure strikes to widespread airport shutdowns.
Strategic Rationale Behind Airport Closures
Part 4/14:
Experts and Ukrainian officials emphasize that these drone operations serve a vital purpose. Serhii Bratchuk, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces, explains that Moscow’s airports are the backbone of Russian internal and international air travel. Disabling them weakens Moscow’s control over its vast regions and undermines internal cohesion.
“Reducing Russia’s ability to fly creates a new form of pressure—disrupting logistics, sapping morale, and destabilizing the Russian regions,” Bratchuk states. The goal is to erode the internal stability that supports Putin’s war effort without engaging in direct conflict with other nations or risking collateral damage involving high-profile foreign leaders present during events like Victory Day.
Part 5/14:
The Covering Strategy: Disrupting from a Distance
Ukraine’s tactic during the buildup to key moments—such as Russia’s Victory Day parade on May 9—is especially telling. Though Ukraine refrained from directly attacking the parade to avoid unintended casualties among international dignitaries like China's President Xi Jinping, it launched hundreds of drones against Moscow’s airports instead.
This maneuver served multiple purposes: it prevented large-scale Russian military displays, disrupted international travel, and prevented the deployment of Russian military reinforcements. The drone assaults caused approximately 60,000 passengers’ travel plans to be canceled or delayed, not to mention widespread internet outages and chaos across regions such as Oryol.
Part 6/14:
In subsequent weeks, Ukraine continued this strategy aggressively, with attacks involving nearly 500 drones over a three-day period in late May, resulting in even more disruptions to Moscow’s air operations, along with damaging the country’s internal connectivity. These strikes have not only caused logistical headaches but also psychological impacts, sowing doubt and frustration within Russian society.
Impact on Russia’s Internal Stability and Morale
Part 7/14:
Bratchuk emphasizes that these operations aim to exert pressure on Russian civilians, not just military targets. The disruptions suggest an attempt to chip away at public morale and regional stability, which may support Ukraine’s broader goal of weakening Putin’s grip on power. Despite high approval ratings for Putin—hovering around 87% in April 2025—there are signs of cracks forming within Russian public opinion. Polls show fluctuating support levels between 60% and 70%, reflecting growing unease and dissent.
The disruption of air travel potentially fosters regional discontent and feelings of isolation among Russia’s diverse territories. With transport and communication channels hampered, regions may feel increasingly disconnected from Moscow’s authority, thus increasing internal unrest.
Part 8/14:
Economic and Psychological Warfare
Beyond morale, these airport closures inflict economic damage. Disrupted flights lead to canceled bookings, increased operational costs for airlines, and losses for airports—all contributing to a broader economic strain on Russia. Tourism, a significant income source—from nearly 9.5 million tourists in 2024 spending billions—faces a notable threat as the chaos reduces Russia’s attractiveness as a vacation destination.
Part 9/14:
Ukraine’s strategy appears designed not just to drain Russia’s economic resources but also to influence public perception. By instilling uncertainty about safe travel and reliable logistics, it seeks to diminish Russia’s appeal for tourists and business travelers alike, thereby cutting off a vital revenue stream and further pressuring the Russian economy to fund its war efforts.
The Operational Challenge for Russia’s Air Defense
Part 10/14:
Ukraine’s continuous drone campaigns force Russia into a state of perpetual alertness, particularly through operations like Operation Kovyor (“Carpet Plan”). Under this protocol, Russian airports are ordered to shut down immediately when drone activity is suspected, with all aircraft on the ground instructed to remain stationed or divert to safer zones. Since November 2023, this plan has been active at 37 civilian airports, prioritizing civilian safety but also tying up air defense systems.
Part 11/14:
Ironically, this relentless drone threat stretches Russia’s increasingly strained air defense capabilities. Moscow’s layered air defense network, once a formidable barrier, now faces internal bottlenecks, with production delays and reliance on outdated systems such as the S-400 and S-500. Ukraine’s persistent assaults force Russia to divert valuable resources toward protecting its airports, reducing available defenses for military targets and further diminishing the overall effectiveness of Russia’s aerial shield.
Strategic Implications and Future Prospects
Ukraine’s escalating airport attacks serve multiple strategic purposes. They simultaneously:
Disrupt Russian logistics and economic activity.
Undermine internal cohesion and morale.
Weaken Russia’s aerial defense resilience.
Part 12/14:
Bratchuk suggests that further expansion of this tactic could enable Ukraine to more effectively target military infrastructure within Russia, including military airfields, oil refineries, and armories. As Ukraine prepares to build an arsenal of 30,000 long-range drones in 2025, the potential for broader and more impactful strikes grows.
Meanwhile, Putin faces a dilemma. He must allocate his limited aerial defense resources between protecting military objectives and defending against the drone interdiction campaign. The persistent pressure risks spreading Russia’s defenses thin, possibly opening opportunities for Ukraine to escalate strikes or target strategic military sites more effectively.
Part 13/14:
Conclusion: A War of Logistics, Morale, and Psychological Warfare
Ukraine’s targeted disruption of Russia’s airports exemplifies a clever and asymmetrical approach to warfare—one that leverages technological advantages and strategic patience. By focusing on infrastructure that facilitates internal connectivity and economic stability, Ukraine aims to weaken Russia from within, avoiding direct military confrontations where risks are higher.
Part 14/14:
As the conflict stretches into 2025, Ukraine’s airport strategy illustrates an ongoing effort to shift the battlefield from traditional combat zones into the realm of psychological and economic warfare. Whether this approach will hasten Russia’s internal collapse or provoke a more aggressive Russian response remains an open question. Nonetheless, it highlights the evolving nature of modern warfare—where victory is often determined not just on the battlefield, but in the shadows behind the lines.