Russia temporarily suspended operations at all four of Moscow’s international airports on Sunday following a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks that triggered heightened air safety concerns, officials said. The restrictions were imposed in the afternoon after Russian air defence systems reported intercepting multiple unmanned aerial vehicles approaching the capital.
The federal aviation agency Rosaviatsia announced that flight operations were limited at Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo airports to ensure passenger safety. Authorities said the measures affected both arrivals and departures, though some restrictions were gradually lifted later in the evening as the situation stabilized.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin confirmed that air defence units had intercepted another UAV heading toward the city at around 4 pm local time. According to the mayor’s update, the initial wave of drone activity began earlier in the afternoon, with the first aircraft reportedly shot down near the Moscow region around 3 pm.
Officials said the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched a second wave of drone activity at approximately 6 pm, prompting further defensive action. Sobyanin later reported that Russian systems had destroyed 21 Ukrainian UAVs during the evening phase of the incident. Emergency services were dispatched to locations where debris from intercepted drones fell, though authorities did not immediately report casualties.
In total, Russian officials said 25 drones targeted the Moscow region during the episode. The attacks paused for nearly two hours after the first interception before resuming later in the day. Aviation authorities maintained that the temporary airport shutdown was a precautionary step to minimize risks to civilian aircraft.
Beyond the capital, Russia’s defence ministry reported a broader pattern of drone activity across several regions. According to official figures, air defence systems shot down 81 drones over Bryansk, 26 over Belgorod and 17 over Kaluga. Additional interceptions were reported in the Kursk, Tula and Tver regions.
The incident comes as the Russia-Ukraine war approaches its fifth year, with cross-border drone and missile strikes becoming a regular feature of the conflict. Moscow has repeatedly accused Kyiv of targeting infrastructure and major cities with UAV attacks, while Ukraine has faced sustained missile and drone barrages from Russian forces.
Authorities in Moscow said they continue to monitor the security situation closely. Aviation operations at the capital’s airports are expected to return fully to normal once officials determine there is no further aerial threat.
