Ukraine's ousted defense minister confirms drone operation planning targeting Moscow airports

Ukraine's former defense minister, who no longer holds the post, has publicly confirmed information about a military operation involving drone strike plans against Russia's capital. He also disclosed additional details about the origin of the operation's codename, though the specific story behind the name is not detailed in the available source material.

According to the former minister's confirmation, the operational plan called for using autonomous, AI-powered drones to target Moscow's airports and disrupt air traffic in the Russian capital. Such a strike would have been directed at civilian aviation infrastructure, potentially causing significant disruption to flight schedules and airport operations.

Context

The disclosure comes as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues into its multiple year, with both sides regularly employing drone technology for strikes and reconnaissance. The use of autonomous, AI-guided drones reflects Ukraine's ongoing efforts to advance its technological capabilities and expand its capacity to conduct precise strikes deep inside Russian territory.

No further operational details are currently public regarding whether and when the operation was actually carried out, nor its current status. Ukrainian officials typically avoid commenting on ongoing or planned military operations, making this disclosure by the former minister an unusual development that has drawn attention from both the public and analysts following the course of the war.