On August 21, reports emerged indicating that Ukraine had intended, earlier in the year, to deploy AI-powered drone swarms against Moscow airports—a revelation made public by the United States on the 20th. The strategic objective behind this move was to compel international airlines to halt flights to Moscow, thereby exerting pressure on the Russian elite and incentivizing Russia to engage in negotiations. According to two sources, these drones were outfitted with AI-guided systems, granting them the capability to autonomously identify and engage targets. In an effort to penetrate Russia's air defense mechanisms, Ukraine initially contemplated launching as many as 1,000 drones nightly towards Moscow and its adjacent airports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy harbored apprehensions regarding the potential for these drones to inadvertently strike civilian aircraft, leading to casualties. Nevertheless, spurred by the urgent necessity to secure a bargaining advantage, he permitted the plan to advance for several months. The scheme is purported to have been the brainchild of former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Following his dismissal in July, the initiative was placed on hold. Despite this, an official from the Ukrainian Presidential Office refuted the existence of any such plan.