Murmansk under drone attack

Videos show a drone that reportedly fly over Vysokii, a small military town located next to the strategically important Olenya air base. The UAV is flying low and is met by massive air defence fire. Ultimately, it is hit and explodes in the air.

The governor of Murmansk on Wednesday afternoon informed about the attacks.

“On the territory of Murmansk Oblast an air threat from drones has been detected,” Andrei Chibis writes on his Telegram channel. “All security measures are being taken. I call on all northerners to be attentive and report on 112 about suspicious situations,” he adds.

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Reportedly, the far northern region has over the past four days experienced several attacks.

The attacks could explain why the air space over the Kola Peninsula suddenly was closed on Monday 19th of August. Several aircraft, including an intercontinental flight, were redirected, air traffic data showed.

Airspace over Kola Peninsula closed. Several passenger flights suddenly redirected, including this Emirates A380 that circled over #Kirkenes in border region before flying around Kola. Does anyone know what is happening? pic.twitter.com/1at2Vv7une

— Thomas Nilsen (@NilsenThomas) August 19, 2024

According to Violetta Grudina, a local opposition activist who now lives in exile, the latest drone flew from the south at 1300 meter altitude.

The video is filmed by a local eyewitness.

Reportedly, several companies in the area have over the past days repeatedly evacuated staff.

It is not the first time that the Olenya has been attacked. In late July, a Ukrainian drone managed to hit the airbase located as much as 1,800 km north of Ukrainian territory. The drone reportedly hit a long-range supersonic bomber-missile carrier TU-22M3. Olenya is base for many of the strategic bombers that Russia is using in its terror-bombing of Ukrainian towns and infrastructure. 

It was the first reported attack inside the Arctic Circle after Russia launched its full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022.