Video: Following a drone attack, the Volgograd airport suspended operations and fires broke out
On the night of July 31, Volgograd and the Volgograd region came under a massive drone attack. Due to the threat of strikes, a missile and drone alert was issued in the region, airport operations were temporarily suspended, and fires broke out in several areas following the explosions. Russian authorities reported that air defense systems were activated.
This was reported by the Federal Air Transport Agency of the Russian Federation (Rosaviatsiya), the local branch of Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry (RSChS), and local monitoring sources.
The first reports of a threat from unidentified drones emerged on the evening of July 30 at around 10:07 p.m. By nightfall, the situation had escalated significantly:
- 2:09 a.m. – Rosaviatsiya imposed flight restrictions. Volgograd Airport activated “Carpet” plan, causing the airport to temporarily suspend the arrival and departure of flights.
- 2:25 a.m. – A missile alert was officially declared throughout the entire Volgograd region.
- 02:29 – Residents of the region began reporting loud explosions in the sky en masse.
It should be noted that local Telegram channels reported drone activity in various districts of the region, including the Surovikinsky, Svetloyarsky, and Ilovlinsky districts. There were also reports of air defense systems in operation in the Krasnoarmeysky, Voroshilovsky, Dzerzhinsky, and Traktorozavodsky districts of Volgograd. Residents were urged to stay away from windows and remain in shelters until the danger had passed.
Videos and photos have also appeared online showing a fire and thick smoke over one of the city’s industrial districts.
According to preliminary reports, at least two major facilities were hit. The first is the Wildberries logistics center in Volgograd, covering an area of about 44,000 square meters, which serves the Volgograd, Astrakhan, and neighboring regions. The second is the Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka oil refinery—one of Russia’s largest refineries, which produces gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, as well as other petroleum products.
In addition, Russian monitoring Telegram channels report that drones carrying explosives are allegedly still operating over Volgograd. Information regarding the extent of the damage and the consequences of the attack continues to be clarified.
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