Drone Attack on Moscow Disrupts Major Airport Reflected Ukraine

News selection and analysis by Tor Rauden Källstigen.
Subscribe to Reflected Ukraine on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.***
Drone Attack on Moscow Disrupts Major AirportFlights at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport were diverted on Tuesday following what the Russian Defence Ministry reports as a drone attack from Ukraine. Five drones were allegedly deployed, targeting various locations in and around the capital. The ministry claims to have shot down all drones, with no resultant casualties or damage.
Flights from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt were among the disrupted. Despite the allegations from Russia, Ukraine has yet to claim responsibility for the purported attack.
Russia’s foreign ministry branded the assault as a terrorist act by the Kyiv regime. This incident is not the first drone attack aimed at Moscow. A similar attack in May, also attributed to Kyiv, resulted in minor damage. 
This story was originally reported by BBC
***
Russia Escalating Use of Anti-Tank Mines 
Russia has stepped up its military tactics, aiming to disrupt the Ukrainian armoured counter-offensive in southern Ukraine. This is reported by the UK Ministry of Defence.
Central to this strategy is the unprecedented use of anti-tank mines, surpassing limits in Russia's military doctrine.
After impeding Ukraine's advance, Russia has resorted to attacking Ukrainian armoured vehicles using uncrewed aerial vehicles, helicopters, and artillery.
Despite initial successes, Russian forces face challenges, particularly overextended units and an artillery munitions shortage.
***
War Shadows Over Crimea's Tourism
In the midst of escalating war tension near Crimea, Russian occupying forces are pushing hard to keep the tourism industry thriving. Crimea has been the target of multiple drone attacks on naval facilities, rail lines, and oil depots. 
Amid speculations of Ukraine's potential counteroffensive to reclaim the peninsula, the authorities have played down fears, insisting it's business as usual for the summer tourist season. Messages touting the alluring beaches  overwhelm Russian social media, promising a holiday of a lifetime. Yet, a mere sixteen months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the war is casting a dark shadow over Crimea's tourism sector.
Riddled with an extensive coastline, limestone plateaus, and rows of poplar trees, Crimea has been a favored getaway destination for Russians. It is a place of respite from the chaos of Moscow and other cities. 
However, last summer's bombing of an air base and the explosion of the bridge connecting Crimea to mainland Russia have had substantial impacts. The collapse of the Kakhovka Dam last June could harm Crimea’s freshwater supply. 
Regardless of these developments, Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-appointed head of what Moscow considers the Republic of Crimea, assures of calm. He conveyed on local television that there's no land invasion imminent and that the summer holiday season will proceed as planned. 
Yet, data paints a different picture, with only one percent of Russian hotel bookings this year made in Crimea, as per the online booking portal Ostrovok.Ru. "Many people were intimidated by military news and various 'fakes.' They have changed their plans and decided to not go to Crimea this season," said Nikita Krimskiy, a tour guide in Yalta. 
Despite the challenges, the resilient spirit of the peninsula shines through. Anna, a marketing manager working with hotels and tourism agencies in Crimea, said, "A community of loyal visitors will return every year — no matter what."
This story was originally reported by The Washington Post.




This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reflectedukraine.substack.com