Ukraine considered plan to paralyze Moscow airports with drones

Reports indicate that Ukraine considered a plan, codenamed ‘Operation M&Ms’, to paralyze Moscow's airports using a large-scale drone strike. According to The Atlantic, the proposal was developed by former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and presented to President Volodymyr Zelensky in early 2026.

The plan involved deploying up to 1,000 inexpensive, small drones equipped with AI-based navigation. These drones would operate autonomously, using pre-loaded maps and visual data to identify and strike targets without operator confirmation. The strategic goal was to overwhelm Russian air defenses and force international airlines, such as Emirates or Turkish Airlines, to suspend flights to the Russian capital, thereby increasing pressure on the Russian leadership.

While Zelensky reportedly expressed concern regarding the risks to civilian aviation and airport personnel, he allowed preparations to proceed. However, the project was halted in July following Fedorov's departure from office. A spokesperson for Zelensky's office has denied the existence of such a plan, calling the reports ‘complete nonsense’ and stating that while Ukraine seeks to disrupt Russian airports, it lacks the precise long-range weaponry to do so without significant civilian risk.