Russia: Protesters storm Makhachkala Uytash Airport in Makhachkala, Dagestan, to denounce and disrupt flight arriving from Tel Aviv late Oct. 29

Officials will likely maintain an increased security presence at Makhachkala Uytash Airport (MCX) in Makhachkala, Dagestan, over the coming hours after pro-Palestinian activists stormed the premises to denounce and disrupt the scheduled arrival of a flight from Tel Aviv late Oct. 29. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the vicinity of the airport to protest the flight's scheduled arrival, and hundreds subsequently entered the international terminal; some protesters breached the runway at around 21:00. Security forces are at the scene and have fired their weapons into the air in an attempt to regain control of the situation. Unconfirmed reports indicate that roads leading to the airport have been blocked. The airport has temporarily closed to arriving and departing flights due to the unrest. Authorities did not immediately indicate when flight operations would resume, and flight disruptions will almost certainly continue at the airport into at least early Oct. 30. Officials will likely provide updates over the coming hours.

Ground transport disruptions will likely impact the area around MCX over the coming hours. Additional protests are possible in Makhachkala, especially near MCX, over the short term.