Putin Avoids Travel to Western Russian Regions Amid Rising Drone Threat

Since resuming domestic travel in June, Russian President Vladimir Putin has predominantly chosen destinations in Siberia and the Far East, reportedly to avoid regions further west that are frequently targeted by Ukrainian drones. He is expected to visit the Novosibirsk region next week. The shift in travel patterns follows an Aug. 3 incident in which a Ukrainian drone, allegedly targeting a defense contractor’s recreation facility, was intercepted by Russian air defenses and fell on a crowded…