Airlines had to issue 43,000 forced ticket refunds, accommodate 94,000 people in hotels, and provide food and drink worth 354,000 rubles (€3,800). Russian pro-government media website Kommersant reported that the transport issues will cost billions of rubles (more than €200,000).
Ukrainian drones have repeatedly forced Russia to close its airspace for civilian traffic, as Kyiv targets military plants and other sites as it looks to inflict domestic pain on Putin.
Starovoit, former governor of Russia’s Kursk region, was appointed to lead the transport ministry in 2024.