Russia cancels international air show due to fear of low attendance

International isolation, safety concerns, sanctions, and general chaos in its aerospace unit have prompted Russia to cancel its premiere air show, known as MAKS, according to UK intel.

"Scheduled every other year, MAKS takes place near Moscow and showcases Russia's civil and military aerospace sectors and has become key to securing export customers," the UK Ministry of Defense said, Insider reports.

It would've been the first air show since the war began, and intel suggested Russia cancelled it for two main reasons: "Reputational damage if fewer international delegations attended" and "security concerns" over recent drone attacks in Moscow.

Russia's aerospace industry has been hit hard since the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It is struggling under sweeping international sanctions and Gen. Sergei Surovikin, the commander of Russia's aerospace forces, is now missing from public view.

Surovikin had been serving as a liaison between Russia's defence ministry and Yevgeny Prigozhin, who leads the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization that rebelled last month, marching within hours of Moscow before pulling back.

Surovikin hasn't been seen since the rebellion and may be under arrest for his connection to Prigozhin.