“On August 18, the Russian Air Traffic Management Corporation gave the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) an alarming warning of planned ‘space activity’ in an area of the Southern Ocean managed by New Zealand authorities. The CAA’s follow-up Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) identified the activity as a missile launch.”
“[…] it appears that Russia’s warning is a dummy warning of a dummy missile – an information operation and another example of Russia’s reckless hybrid warfare. The New Zealand government has asked for more information about the launch. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the information Russia provided was unclear.”
“After Russia issued its warning, a U.S. Air Force C-17 Antarctic flight was turned back from Christchurch a few hours into its journey on the afternoon of August 18. The Antarctic C-17s are flown by active-duty and Air Force Reserve crews from the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in the U.S. state of Washington. The international Antarctic programs based in Christchurch had only just begun their Antarctic season and regular flights to the ice; the C-17 flight on August 18 was to be the first.”
“Russia’s missile warning did not make the evening news in New Zealand, nor did it feature on the national radio bulletin…”
https://thediplomat.com/2026/08/russia-issues-missile-test-warning-to-new-zealand/