Ukraine reportedly developed an ambitious plan to launch up to 1,000 AI‑guided drones per night at Moscow’s major airports, aiming to overwhelm Russian air‑defence systems and disrupt aviation across the capital. The operation, codenamed “M&Ms”, was conceived under former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov as Russia intensified long‑range strikes that killed at least 16 people in Kyiv and other regions.
According to reporting cited by The Atlantic and Ukrainian media, the plan relied on autonomous drones equipped with pre‑loaded maps and live camera feeds, allowing them to identify targets and strike without continuous remote control. The drones were intended to hit Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports — infrastructure critical to Russia’s civilian aviation and elite travel networks.
The goal was to create sustained disruption, discouraging international airlines from flying to Moscow and placing pressure on Russian political and business elites who depend on global connectivity. Analysts say such a campaign could have forced Russia to divert significant resources to defend its capital, potentially shaping the broader strategic environment.
However, the operation was never executed. Preparations were halted after Fedorov left the defence ministry in July, and the new leadership reportedly shifted priorities. Ukrainian officials have not publicly commented on the shelved plan, but sources suggest concerns about escalation, resource allocation, and operational risk played a role.
The report emerges as Russia continues heavy bombardment of Ukrainian cities, targeting energy infrastructure, residential areas and military facilities. Ukraine, meanwhile, is expanding its domestic drone‑production capabilities and exploring new autonomous systems to counter Russia’s advantage in long‑range missiles.