Russia closes airspace over the range from which it strikes Ukraine with the "Oreshnik"

Russia has introduced temporary flight restrictions over the Kapustin Yar missile range in Astrakhan Oblast. The airspace will be closed from September 28 to October 3.

The information is contained in a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued through aeronautical information systems. Current notices can be checked via the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

NOTAM is used for operational notification of pilots, airlines, and air traffic services about changes and potential hazards in the airspace, including during military exercises and missile launches.

The mere appearance of such a restriction does not confirm Russia's preparation of a specific missile launch. The published data does not indicate what particular event the airspace closure over the range is associated with.

Kapustin Yar is one of Russia's main testing grounds for ballistic and other missile systems.

Special attention to the restrictions over the range is linked to the Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile "Oreshnik". According to Ukrainian special services, the missile that Russia used to strike Dnipro on November 21, 2024, was launched from Kapustin Yar. After the attack, SBU experts reported that they had determined the launch site based on examination of the debris.

The range is also used for testing other Russian missile systems, so the airspace closure alone does not make it possible to determine the type of a possible launch.

In June 2026, the Ukrainian Air Force already warned of a high probability of Russia's use of an intermediate-range ballistic missile specifically from the Kapustin Yar range. However, the current NOTAM has not yet been accompanied by an official statement from the Ukrainian military about preparation of a specific strike.

Thus, at the moment, the confirmed fact is the restriction of flights over the range from September 28 to October 3. These data alone do not confirm the possible preparation of a launch of the "Oreshnik" or another missile.

Based on materials from: FAA, Ukrainska Pravda, CSIS Missile Threat.