Drivers in the Russian Far East were treated to a private airshow when the military shut down a highway to let jets practice landing onto a makeshift runway.
Social media videos showed Khabarovsk motorists marveling at the view as the warplanes buzzed overhead, blissfully oblivious to the hours spent stuck in traffic. Others reportedly complained on Thursday about not being warned about the scheduled military exercise.
Russian jets previously practiced emergency landings on the emergency landing strips in that section of the highway in 2007, according to the regional administration’s Instagram account.
This year, the stunts were performed as part of large-scale military drills dubbed “Vostok-2018.”
Those who missed the dramatic performance will get the chance to stand a hair’s breadth away from the jets at least three more times in the next week.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
