The leadership of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) relied on a dedicated air response to fierce wildfires near the Ust-Maisky district, close to the border with Khabarovsk Territory. An An-26 Atmosphere drilling aircraft operated by Polar Airlines conducted targeted operations to induce cloud seeding and prompt artificial precipitation with the goal of damping down active fires. This initiative was confirmed by the republic’s presidential administration and regional government, emphasizing the role of aerial assets in forest fire suppression when natural rainfall is insufficient.
Dmitry Lepchikov, who chairs the State Committee for Population Safety in Yakutia, noted that the region experiences precipitation shortages that heighten fire risk, especially during the hot, dry summer months. He explained that when rain fronts are triggered and directed toward active flames, the heat is cut off and the fires lose intensity, becoming cooler and easier to control. This approach helps reduce the spread of fires in challenging terrain and supports ground firefighting teams on the ground.
As evidence of the strategy’s effectiveness, Lepchikov pointed to successful suppression efforts in the Momsky, Verkhnekolymsky, and Srednekolymsky districts observed in July. He also observed an overall improvement in the fire situation in the Ust-Maisky district, attributing part of the success to the enhanced weather-modification capability deployed during the fire season.
Official communications from the republican leadership indicate that the firefighting plan includes multiple aerial tools. In addition to Polar Airlines’ An-26, two additional weather-modification assets were brought into service for the season. The Central Aerological Observatory’s Yak-40 aircraft, operating under a contract with the Yakutia Rescue Service, conducted artificial precipitation missions as part of the broader suppression program. The collaboration extended from mid-July to early August, with the Avialesookhrana FBI’s An-26 Cyclone drill plane mobilized to target 24 separate fires across Aldan, Amginsky, Neryungri, and Ust-Maysky districts, contributing to the containment and reduction of fire activity across the region.