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UAVs are reported to have attacked the Olenya air base in the Kola Peninsula. The airspace over the region has been closed and aircraft on their way to Murmansk are circling over the White Sea waiting for further commands.
“An attack of enemy drones is taking place in our region. I ask you for understanding for a series of temporary limitations that are being introduced. All necessary measures are taken to heighten security and air defence systems are working on the elimination of the drones,” Andrei Chibis said in a statement on Telegram made around 9am local time.
Governor Andrei Chibis confirms that his region is under attack by drones.
Regional authorities have suspended flights to and from the airport in Murmansk.
Regional authorities have suspended flights to and from the airport in Murmansk, and the airspace over the Kola Peninsula has been closed. An aircraft on its way from Moscow is circling over the White Sea and a liner flying the route Torony-Lahore suddenly changed course in order to bypass the Kola Peninsula.
The PI790 from Toronto to Lahore was redirected as it Wednesday morning approached the airspace of the Kola Peninsula. Screenshot of Flightradar
Rumours and speculations are buzzing on local social media.
According to Violetta Grudina, the Murmansk activist and politician that now lives in exile, two drones have been shot down over the town of Vysoky.
Vysoky is the military town located just few hundred meters away from the strategically important air base Olenya, from where Russia regularly is sending bombers on terror raids against Ukrainian towns and infrastructure.
The drones are believed to be of the type Aeroprak A-22 Foxbat, an ultralight aircraft made in Ukraine.
The attacks might have started earlier this week. According to Grudina on Telegram, locals reported drones in the air over the town of Kirovsk on Tuesday. It is not clear however whether the flying objects actually were drones or only small civilian aircraft manned by pilots.
It is not the first drone attack on the Kola Peninsula. In late August, a drone was shot down over Vysoky. It was only few hundred meters away from reaching the airfield where the Tu-22 and Tu-95 are based.
This story is being updated
