🚨 Putin’s planes were unable to land in Moscow amid a Ukrainian drone attack, with one aircraft diverted to St. Petersburg, according to Important Stories (Vazhnye Istorii). Three aircraft were returning from Turkmenistan, where Putin’s visit ended on October 9. All three were Il-96-300PU models, known as “Doomsday planes.” These airborne command posts are equipped with special communications systems that allow Russia’s leadership to maintain contact with the military, even in the event of a nu

🚨 Putin’s planes were unable to land in Moscow amid a Ukrainian drone attack, with one aircraft diverted to St. Petersburg, according to Important Stories (Vazhnye Istorii). Three aircraft were returning from Turkmenistan, where Putin’s visit ended on October 9. All three were Il-96-300PU models, known as “Doomsday planes.” These airborne command posts are equipped with special communications systems that allow Russia’s leadership to maintain contact with the military, even in the event of a nuclear war. It is unclear which aircraft Putin was aboard. After additional maneuvers, two of the planes managed to land at Vnukovo Airport, according to Flightradar data. The third “Doomsday plane,” RA-96025, was unable to land in Moscow. It departed from Turkmenbashi at 15:52 and was heading to Vnukovo but was diverted to Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. It had not landed at the time of reporting. A standard passenger Il-96-300, tail number RA-96018, also departed from Turkmenistan. The same aircraft was used by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for his trip to Anchorage. It left Turkmenbashi at 17:51 and was attempting to land. Earlier on October 9, all four Moscow airports—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky—were closed amid a drone attack. Flights were delayed or diverted to alternate airports. By 18:45, restrictions at all four airports had been lifted.