Moscow’s major airports were forced to temporarily halt flights and impose strict airspace restrictions overnight following what Russian authorities described as a large-scale drone attack originating from Ukraine.
According to reports carried by Russian state news agencies, including RIA Novosti, and Russian media outlets such as Meduza and RBC, the surge of drones over the capital prompted significant disruptions at Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports, among others. In total, more than 300 flights were either cancelled, delayed or diverted, as aviation authorities moved to ensure the safety of civilian aviation operations.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote that Russian air defence units had detected and engaged multiple unmanned aerial vehicles approaching the city. The exact number of drones involved was not officially confirmed, but the mayor’s office highlighted an “unusually high number” of drone sightings around Moscow’s airspace.
Flight disruptions were widespread:
- At Sheremetyevo Airport, several dozen flights were cancelled or delayed, with some aircraft redirected to alternate airports.
- Vnukovo similarly saw dozens of arrivals and departures affected.
- Emergency procedures were activated as crash sites of downed drones were secured.
Russian officials stressed that the closures and restrictions were temporary and precautionary. The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) reported that flights had resumed after the security measures were lifted once the airspace was judged to be clear.
Meduza
While the Russian Defence Ministry claims to have engaged numerous drones across several regions of Russia in recent weeks, Yemen’s military authorities and Ukraine have not independently verified these specific claims of attack origin or scope.