&w=3840&q=100)
Op Sindoor delegation flight to Moscow delayed by hours after Ukraine launched drone attack at airport
A flight with the Operation Sindoor delegation, including Indian MP Kanimozhi, was delayed due to a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow airport. The delegation aims to inform Russia about India's stance against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism read more
A flight carrying the Operation Sindoor outreach delegation to the Russian capital was caught in the crosshairs of a Ukrainian drone attack targeting Moscow airport on Thursday (May 22). Indian Member of Parliament (MP) Kanimozhi from the DMK party was on the flight, which was forced to circle for hours due to the airport closure. The MP's team said Friday that the flight could land after a delay of several hours.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Notably, the drone attack, likely launched by Ukraine, led to disruptions at the Domodedovo International Airport, affecting both domestic and international flight operations for several hours. Due to this, the MP's flight was denied permission to land and was asked to stay airborne for several hours.
Indian embassy staff later received the delegation when the flight landed at the airport after a prolonged delay.
Kanimozhi is leading a group to Russia, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, and Latvia to inform these countries about India's recent Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, which was launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attacks. The team will explain India's position on regional security and raise awareness about Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism.
Other members of the group include Rajeev Rai from the Samajwadi Party, Mian Altaf Ahmad from the National Conference, Brijesh Chowta from the BJP, Prem Chand Gupta from the RJD, Ashok Kumar Mittal from the AAP, and former diplomats Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf. They were all on the same flight that was delayed.
The group is set to meet with Russian Duma members and foreign ministry officials on Friday, and interact with top experts from local think-tanks.
On Saturday, they will hold a press conference and speak to local media before heading to Slovenia.
India's global outreach programme started on May 21, with the purpose of conveying India's strong stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
These delegations are likely carrying a detailed dossier of Pakistan's involvement in terrorist activities inside India, with all evidence. 'The dossiers may be prepared in the official language of the respective country,' a source earlier said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
27 minutes ago
- India Today
Hours before Istanbul talks, Ukraine sends peace accord memorandum to Russia
Russia has received a draft memorandum from Ukraine outlining proposals for a possible peace agreement, Russian state media reported on Sunday. The development comes just hours before scheduled talks between the two countries in Istanbul on Monday. The meeting will start at 13:00 local time in the Ciragan to TASS, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky confirmed the receipt of the document. 'The Russian delegation received earlier from Ukraine its version of the memorandum on a peaceful settlement,' said Medinsky, who is leading Moscow's team in the Medinsky did not reveal details of the Ukrainian proposals. On May 28, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the new meeting."The Russian side, as agreed, promptly developed a corresponding memorandum, which sets out our position on all aspects of reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis. Our delegation headed by (Presidential Aide) Vladimir Medinsky is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary clarifications during the second round of resumed direct talks in Istanbul next Monday, June 2," he OUTCOMES EMERGED FROM THE FIRST ROUND?The nations decided to present their versions of a potential future ceasefire during the first meeting. After a phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, this agreement was finalized. It was announced that Russia is ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum "on a possible future peace treaty defining a number of positions." The exchange of memorandum is one of the key expectation from the second Putin's initiative, direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine resumed on May 16 after three first meeting lasted about two hours. The parties agreed on a "1,000 for 1,000" exchange of prisoners of war in addition to their intention to keep pushing for a cease-fire. The peace talks are part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war, which has caused thousands of casualties and displaced millions. Both sides have previously expressed cautious optimism about progress, though major differences remain on issues like territorial control and security meeting in Istanbul is expected to focus on narrowing those gaps and moving closer to a ceasefire or broader Watch
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Strike them at sea, in the air, and on the ground': Ukraine claims 34% of Russia's missile carriers destroyed
Ukraine's security agency claimed a massive drone attack on June 1 which severely damaged Russia's long-range air strike capabilities, causing an estimated $7 billion in destruction and disabling 34% of its cruise missile bombers. Called 'Spider Web,' the operation reportedly struck four key Russian airbases, targeting aircraft regularly used to launch missiles on Ukrainian cities. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), over 40 aircraft were hit, including rare and heavily relied-on models like the A-50 surveillance plane, and the Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers. The SBU said the plan was in the works for more than 18 months and involved transporting first-person-view (FPV) drones deep into Russian territory. These drones were hidden inside trucks before being deployed in coordinated attacks on airbases in Irkutsk, Murmansk, Ryazan and Ivanovo oblasts. A source from the SBU told The Kyiv Independent that the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk, over 4,000 kilometres from Ukraine, was among the targets, highlighting the unprecedented range and ambition of the operation. The Tu-95, one of the aircraft reportedly hit, dates back to the Soviet era and was originally designed to carry nuclear bombs. It has since been adapted to fire cruise missiles, including the modern Kh-101 and Kh-102, with each aircraft capable of carrying up to 16 such missiles. The SBU shared a defiant message following the attack, quoting iconic Ukrainian poet Lina Kostenko, 'And you thought Ukraine was easy? Ukraine is exceptional. Ukraine is unique. All the steamrollers of history have rolled over it. It has withstood every kind of trial. It is tempered by the highest degree. In today's world, its value is beyond measure.' The agency vowed to keep pushing back Russian forces by any means necessary, 'We will strike them (Russia) at sea, in the air, and on the ground. And if needed, we'll get them from underground too.' The strike came as Russia escalated its own attacks. On May 26, it launched what Ukraine says was the largest drone offensive of the full-scale war, using 355 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys in a single night – an assault seen by many as an attempt to gain leverage amid US-backed ceasefire talks. The SBU says more details about the June 1 operation will be released in due course.
Hindustan Times
38 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Drones hidden in trucks: How Ukraine carried out Operation Spider's Web in Russia
In a big blow to Russia, Ukraine launched a large-scale drone strike codenamed 'Spider's Web' targeting Russian military airbases deep within Russia's territory. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the operation marked Ukraine's longest-range strike to date. The mission, which Zelensky said took a year and a half to plan, was described as a major strategic achievement. 'One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution. Our most long-range operation. Our people involved in preparing the operation were withdrawn from Russian territory in time,' he posted on X, calling it an 'absolutely brilliant result.' Also read: What are FPV drones Ukraine used to strike deep inside Russia under Operation Spider's Web? He said that the strike was an act of self-defence, aimed at compelling Russia to end the war. 'Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so – we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war. Russia started this war, Russia must end it. Glory to Ukraine!' said Zelensky. While Ukraine has claimed significant damage, the actual picture is not certain yet. The coordinated attacks by Ukraine reportedly hit 41 aircraft in Russia, including nuclear-capable Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers and A-50 aircraft, which were apparently used to 'bomb Ukrainian cities', reported AFP citing a source in Ukraine's SBU security service. Also read: Watch | Moment when Ukrainian drones hit Russian military jets in massive attack According to SBU, Russia suffered a loss of as much as around $7 billion in 'strategic aviation' during the attacks. '34% of the strategic carriers of cruise missiles at Russia's main airbases were hit,' the agency claimed, which was later reiterated by Zelensky too. The Russian defence ministry on Sunday confirmed that five air bases across regions, including Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur region,s were targeted in Ukraine's drone attacks, which resulted in damage to an unspecified number of aircraft. As many as 117 drones were used in Ukraine's operation, with a corresponding number of drone operators involved, according to Zelensky. Unlike launching drones to strike targets in Russia like before, Ukraine went for a more tricky modus operandi. The Ukrainian drones, which carried explosives, were sneakily smuggled into Russia by hiding them inside wooden structures, which were loaded onto trucks, reported AFP, citing a Ukrainian security source. Also read: Russia confirms Ukraine targeted 5 airbases with FPV drones; most attacks repelled These trucks made their way to the perimeter of the targeted air bases and when they reached their destination, the roofs of the wooden structures were opened remotely, following which, the drones took off and initiated the attack, said a Reuters report also citing a Ukrainian security official. In a late-night address after the attack, which was just a day ahead of talks scheduled between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, Zelensky hailed the operation, calling it 'brilliant'. Sharing the most interesting part of the operation, Zelensky said that the 'office' of Ukraine's operation on Russian territory was located directly next to the headquarters of the latter's intelligence and security agency, FSB in one of Russia's regions. 'Even before this Operation was carried out, we had intelligence indicating that Russia was preparing another massive strike,' Zelensky said in a video she shared on X. About the upcoming talks between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul, Zelensky said that his country will push for a full and unconditional ceasefire.
