A major international airport in western Russia has been evacuated after authorities issued an urgent missile warning, forcing the suspension of flights and disrupting travel for millions of passengers. Kurumoch Airport in the Samara region was cleared of passengers and staff as officials responded to the threat, underscoring the growing reach of the war deep inside Russian territory. Airport Shut as Alert Sounds Airport authorities confirmed an organised evacuation was carried out to protect travellers and employees after the missile alert was issued. Flights were immediately suspended, with the airport's schedule also showing widespread disruption into the following day. Officials said staff remained on hand to assist stranded passengers as emergency procedures were activated. Region Under Growing Pressure Samara Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed the missile warning, which also prompted evacuations from schools, medical facilities and other public buildings across the region. Located around 500 miles from the Ukrainian border, Samara has become an increasingly frequent target because of its strategic industries, including oil refineries and logistics hubs supporting Russia's economy. Ukraine Expands Deep-Strike Campaign The latest alert follows a series of Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Wildberries warehouses across Russia. Last week, a strike destroyed one of the company's facilities in the Samara region, with officials reporting a major fire but no casualties. Kyiv says its campaign is designed to weaken Russia's war effort by disrupting logistics, damaging infrastructure and increasing the domestic cost of the Kremlin's invasion. War Reaches Further From the Front Drone attacks have also struck sites near Moscow, in southern Russia and in occupied Crimea over recent weeks. Russian officials say civilian casualties have mounted, including two people killed after a drone hit a residential building in the Saratov region. At the same time, Ukraine continues to face relentless missile attacks. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region killed 17 people and wounded dozens, highlighting the growing strain on Ukraine's depleted air defences as supplies of Patriot missile interceptors remain critically low. The latest evacuation in Samara reflects a widening battlefield where military pressure is increasingly being felt far beyond the front lines, leaving civilians on both sides facing mounting disruption and insecurity. Major Russian airport used by millions every year evacuated in urgent missile alert
