Ukraine has spent recent weeks deploying long-range drones to create air threats around Russian airports, prompting Rosaviatsia, the federal air transport agency, to suspend operations there. Hundreds of flights have been canceled or rescheduled as a result, according to The Atlantic.
The outlet, citing two sources involved in developing the operation plan, reported that the campaign is "only beginning."
An initial version of the operation called for up to 1,000 drones a day to strike Moscow airports. Volodymyr Zelensky deemed it too dangerous and has not yet authorized it, The Atlantic reported.
A larger scenario envisions drones equipped with artificial intelligence and image-matching technology capable of evading Russian air defense systems. Serial production of such drones should begin soon, according to one of the sources.
A Zelensky adviser told the outlet that the president prefers the current tactics because they avoid attacking civilian aircraft. "That would be piracy. The president does not want to allow that," the source said.
The Atlantic reported in August that Mykhailo Fedorov, who was defense minister at the time, actively pushed the initial plan. After his dismissal in July, work on it was reportedly suspended.
Moscow airports began suspending operations more frequently in October. According to a count by Agentstvo, four airports were closed for a combined 101 hours in the first 14 days of the month, compared with just 46 hours for all of September. On the night of October 14, the entire Moscow air hub was shut for a record seven consecutive hours.
On September 1, Zelensky said Russian airspace "is becoming unsafe" because "drones will appear in Russia's sky in such a way that it will have to be reckoned with."