Ukraine hits Russia with deadly new tactic of drones released from high-flying weather balloons to trigger Moscow airport chaos

Published: 12:35 EDT, 31 October 2026 | Updated: 12:35 EDT, 31 October 2026 Ukraine hit Vladimir Putin with kamikaze drones launched from weather balloons in a bid to bring Moscow's busy airports to gridlock.Images emerged of the unconventional tactic as Kremlin war channels revealed how Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking to close airspace around the Russian capital.'This is the type of device the enemy is using to target the Russian capital, in an attempt to disrupt the operations of the Moscow aviation hub,' reported New Military Columnist.A drone is seen dangling beneath an alleged weather balloon.The balloons are reportedly used to fly the drones to the target area at high altitude before they are launched to cause maximum damage.Across Russia today there were reports of almost 1,000 delayed or cancelled flights amid growing frustration at Ukraine's escalating bid to disrupt Putin's airspace.Most are regular drones launched from Ukraine.Footage today showed massive queues inside major international airport Sheremetyevo. Ukraine hit Vladimir Putin with kamikaze drones launched from weather balloons. A drone is seen dangling beneath an alleged weather balloon The unusual tactic was a bid to bring Moscow's busy airports to gridlock. Giant queues at international Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow amid major disruption with hundreds of flights cancelled or delayed due to Ukrainian dronesBy early afternoon there were reports of 84 flights delayed and 45 cancelled.Smoke was seen close to Sheremetyevo amid suspicions an unmanned plane had crashed in the vicinity.Some reports said the smoke was close to a Rosneft oil depot.Vnukovo Airport - used by Russian officials and VIP guests - suffered 119 delays and ten cancellations.Some passengers have been waiting days for their flights as planes are held at other airports, unable to fly to Moscow.Novosibirsk - the largest airport in Siberia - suffered around 100 disrupted aircraft.St Petersburg's Pulkovo reported 138 delays or cancellations.Many passengers in Moscow complained about a lack of information from the authorities.'There are children on board. There is no food, only water,' complained a woman on a Pobeda Airline flight.The Russian Defence Ministry claims to have downed 2,690 Ukrainian drones in the past two-and-a-half days - among the highest figure of the entire war.Ukraine says the blame lies with Putin who refuses to halt his war and Russians who support him.Ukrainian national security commentator Andriy Kovalenko said: 'Russians are posting videos from Sheremetyevo airport.'The consequences of Putin's geopolitics are manifesting in constant transportation disruptions.'They chose this path, and they must bear the consequences.'