The organizers of the fifth all-Russian congress of combat unmanned systems operators "Dronnitsa-2026", which was supposed to take place in late August in Veliky Novgorod, announced the postponement of the event for an indefinite period. The reason was information about the preparation of a targeted strike on the location by the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
The organizers of the fifth all-Russian congress of combat unmanned systems operators "Dronnitsa-2026", which was supposed to take place in late August in Veliky Novgorod, announced the postponement of the event for an indefinite period. The reason was information about the preparation of a targeted strike on the location by the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
According to representatives of the so-called Coordination Center for Assistance to Novorossia (CCNA), they have received verified data on real scenarios of a combined attack on the congress venue. This involves the probable use of new ballistic capabilities and strike drones by the Ukrainian military.
To protect the participants of the event, the Russian leadership would have to attract significant air defense forces. The organizers admitted that there was a shortage of air defense means - to cover the congress, they would have to pull complexes from industrial enterprises and military bases in the Novgorod and neighboring regions.
"We have decided that exposing factories and bases for the sake of our own safety is wrong now, and holding the event under such risks is too presumptuous," the organizers said in a statement.
The Dronnitsa congress is one of the key venues in the Russian Federation, where operators, instructors, manufacturers of combat drones and representatives of the military command gather to exchange experience. The new dates and venue are currently being kept secret.
In their statement, the organizers of the canceled congress also complained about the need to build relationships with the new leadership, mentioning recent personnel changes. The point is that in early August, Russian dictator Putin appointed a new commander of the Russian Federation's unmanned systems forces - Lieutenant General Denis Lyamin.
