Russia Strikes Zhulyany Airport Near Kyiv, Hits Aircraft With Drone

Russia attacked the Zhulyany airport, possibly striking an aircraft with a drone. This comes as US President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were expected to arrive in Kyiv on Sunday, September 5, with the attack potentially disrupting their visit. Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko reported the strike, saying the Americans were close to agreeing to land at Boryspil airport when Russia hit an aircraft at Zhulyany with a drone. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko confirmed a fire at a non-residential site in the Solom'yansky district, where the airport is located. Blogger Serhiy Sternenko noted the airport may have had aircraft because not all civilian planes were evacuated before the full-scale invasion, and a museum with planes is nearby. In February 2022, Wizz Air had four Airbus A320s based in Ukraine, with three at Zhulyany during the invasion. By 2023, engines from two were moved to Poland, leaving one in good condition. Satellite images from May 2023 showed the runway blocked by vehicles and five aircraft, including business jets and an An-148, with three Wizz Air A320s visible on remote stands.