Passengers and staff have been evacuated from Samara's Kurumoch Airport in Russia following a warning of incoming missiles. All flights at the airport, which serves over three million travelers annually, have been suspended.
Evacuation and Regional Impact
The Samara region is frequently targeted by Ukrainian missiles due to its industrial plants, including oil refineries. The region also hosts a major logistics hub, including a Wildberries warehouse, which was attacked last Sunday.
An airport statement said: "Following the missile alert, the airport conducted an organised evacuation of passengers and staff to ensure safety. Staff are with passengers and ready to provide any necessary assistance." Samara Region Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed the missile alert, which has also prompted evacuations of city buildings, schools, and medical centers.
Context of Ukrainian Attacks
Ukraine has intensified drone attacks on Russian infrastructure, striking more than a dozen Wildberries depots in two weeks. This aerial campaign aims to undermine Moscow's war effort and hurt its economy. A Wildberries warehouse in the Samara region, about 500 miles from the border, was destroyed in a fire, though no casualties were reported.
Strikes have also hit facilities in Elektrostal, the Tambov region, and across western and southern Russia, as well as in Russian-held Crimea, killing at least nine people.
Recent Strikes and Casualties
In the Saratov region, a Ukrainian drone struck a residential building, killing two people, according to Governor Roman Busargin. The strikes also damaged civil infrastructure in Engels and Saratov.
Meanwhile, Russian attacks on Kyiv and its region have killed 17 people and wounded dozens, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Ukraine's air defenses failed to intercept any of the incoming missiles during a two-hour barrage on Tuesday night, highlighting the critical shortage of interceptors for US-made Patriot systems.
