Russia has announced the closure of airspace over the Kapustin Yar military training ground in the Astrakhan region from 9:00 on May 12 to 19:00 on May 13, 2025, which experts say indicates preparations for another test or combat use of the Oreshnik ballistic missile. The notice, published on the website of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), coincided with a warning from the US Embassy in Kyiv of a possible large-scale air attack on the Ukrainian capital, raising tensions in the region amid the ongoing conflict.

According to the FAA, the temporary flight restriction over Kapustin Yar is related to ensuring security during military events. The test site, located near the city of Znamensk, is a key testing site for Russian missile weapons. According to Reuters, it was from here that the first combat launch of the hypersonic missile "Oreshnik" was carried out on November 21, 2024, at the Yuzhmash plant in Dnepr, which caused an international resonance. According to analysts at The Guardian, "Oreshnik" is capable of hitting targets at a distance of up to 4000 km with high accuracy, posing a threat to objects in Europe and beyond.

A warning from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, issued May 9, underscored the gravity of the situation. The message warned of a “potentially serious air attack” that could occur in the coming days and advised U.S. citizens to be prepared to take immediate shelter in the event of an air raid alert.

The Russian side has not yet commented on this information.