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Ukraine has been using long-range drones in recent weeks in efforts to disrupt air traffic around Russian airports, according to sources cited by The Atlantic. The outlet reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky has not approved a more aggressive plan involving AI-guided drones, while closures at Moscow’s four airports have increased in October.
Ukraine has been seeking to disrupt air traffic around Russian airports with long-range drones, but President Volodymyr Zelensky has yet to approve a more aggressive plan involving AI-guided drones, The Atlantic reported. The proposal could expand pressure on Russian aviation, although its scale, timing and authorization remain uncertain.
Sources speaking to The Atlantic’s Simon Shuster said Ukraine’s effort to disrupt airport operations in Russia was “only just getting started.” They said Ukrainian forces had tried in recent weeks to interfere with air traffic around Russian airports using long-range drones. The report does not detail the specific operations or identify which airports were targeted.
The more expansive plan would use AI-guided drones designed to evade Russian air defenses. One source told The Atlantic that mass production of the drones is expected to begin soon. The outlet reported, however, that Zelensky has not approved the original plan, which called for more aggressive tactics. That means the reported proposal should not be confused with an authorized or fully operational campaign.
Russian airport closures have become more frequent in October, according to figures cited by Meduza from the outlet Agentstvo. Moscow’s four airports were closed for a combined 101 hours in the first 14 days of October, compared with 46 hours across all of September. Overnight into October 14, all four shut for seven consecutive hours, described in the report as a record. The figures show disruption, but do not establish that Ukrainian drones caused every closure.
Pressure on Russia’s Air Network
Airport closures can interrupt civilian travel and force airlines, passengers and airport operators to respond to security alerts. A sustained increase in closures could also complicate the operation of Russia’s air network. The reported October figures point to a greater cumulative interruption at Moscow’s airports during the first half of the month than in all of September, though the source material does not quantify the wider economic or transport effects.
The distinction between the current reported activity and the unapproved plan matters. The reported use of long-range drones suggests Ukraine is already seeking to affect air traffic, while the proposed AI-guided version would represent a more aggressive approach if approved and produced at scale. There is no confirmation in the cited reporting that mass production has started or that Zelensky has authorized the expanded operation.
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From M&M’s Plan to October Closures
The operation was reportedly code-named M&M’s. Shuster first reported on the plans in late August. On September 1, Zelensky said Russia’s skies were “becoming extremely dangerous” and warned that drones would appear in Russian skies at a scale that had to be taken into account. His public remarks signaled a threat of expanded drone activity, but did not confirm approval of the specific airport plan.
The Atlantic reported in August that Mykhailo Fedorov, who was defense minister when the plan was drawn up, had actively supported it. According to that reporting, work on the proposal was suspended after Fedorov’s dismissal in July. The latest account describes efforts to disrupt air traffic in recent weeks while saying that the more aggressive original plan still awaits Zelensky’s decision.
““Only just getting started.””
— Sources cited by The Atlantic’s Simon Shuster
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Approval and Drone Production Remain Open
Zelensky’s decision on the expanded plan is not confirmed, and the report does not state when he might make it. It is also unclear whether the expected start of mass production refers to a fixed schedule, how many AI-guided drones could be made, or when they might be available for operations.
The reported airport closures are not all attributed to Ukrainian drone activity in the source material. It does not provide details of the specific incidents behind the closures, identify the locations affected by recent drone efforts beyond the reference to Russian airports, or describe the full effects on passengers and airlines. The potential reach of any expanded operation therefore remains uncertain.
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A Decision on the Expanded Campaign
The next significant development would be confirmation of whether Zelensky approves the more aggressive plan. Any subsequent evidence that production has begun, or that the proposed drones have been deployed, would help clarify whether the effort is moving beyond the reported use of long-range drones in recent weeks.
Further reporting on airport closures may also show whether October’s disruptions continue and what authorities say is causing them. Until more details emerge, the reported campaign, the unapproved proposal and the recorded closures should be treated as related developments whose precise connection has not been fully established.
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Key Questions
Has Zelensky approved the expanded drone plan?
No approval is reported. The Atlantic says Zelensky has yet to approve the more aggressive plan involving AI-guided drones.
What is Ukraine reportedly doing now?
Sources cited by The Atlantic say Ukraine has tried in recent weeks to disrupt air traffic around Russian airports using long-range drones. The report does not specify the operations or their targets.
What would the more aggressive plan involve?
The proposal would use AI-guided drones intended to evade Russian air defenses. One source said mass production is expected to begin soon, but the report does not confirm that production has started.
How long were Moscow’s airports closed in October?
Agentstvo’s figures, as cited by Meduza, put combined closures at 101 hours during October 1–14 for Moscow’s four airports. The same airports were closed for 46 hours in all of September. The reporting does not establish that drones caused every closure.
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