The Russian Ministry of Transport announced the full restoration of air traffic in the south of the country. Restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures have been lifted for all 13 airports that were temporarily closed following the Ukrainian drone attack on the Rostov Air Navigation Center on May 8.

According to the agency, southern airlines operated 441 flights over the past day, carrying 63,8 passengers. Currently, 277 flights are scheduled, 83 of which have already been carried out. Airports in Astrakhan, Vladikavkaz, Volgograd, Gelendzhik, Grozny, Krasnodar, Makhachkala, Magas, Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Sochi, Stavropol, and Elista have returned to normal operations.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin called the attack on the Rostov Air Traffic Management Center an act of terrorism. The head of state emphasized that tragic consequences were avoided solely due to the highly professional actions of air traffic controllers. Air traffic in southern Russia was suspended on May 8 after a drone struck the administrative building of the Southern Russia Air Navigation Center in Rostov-on-Don.