The southern Russian city of Krasnodar reopened its main airport on Thursday, more than three years after it was closed due to the invasion of Ukraine.
“Throughout the shutdown, the facility maintained readiness to resume service, including retaining trained staff,” Russia’s Transportation Ministry said in a statement announcing the reopening of Pashkovsky Airport.
Civil aviation authorities banned flights to 11 airports in southern and western Russia on the day President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine in February 2022, as fighting along the border posed air safety risks.
Pashkovsky is the third airport to resume operations after the reopening of Elista Airport in the republic of Kalmykia in May 2024 and Gelendzhik Airport on the Black Sea coast earlier this summer.
The Transportation Ministry said Pashkovsky’s reopening would “not only boost regional business, but give residents easier access to holiday destinations on the Azov and Black Seas.”
Pashkovsky Airport said its working hours would be limited to 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until further notice. Its website does not contain any scheduled inbound or outbound flights, with the homepage only noting that the airport is “ready to resume flights.”
Krasnodar is a major city of more than 1 million people, located east of annexed Crimea and south of Ukraine’s partially occupied Donetsk region.
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.
