Moscow Airports Shut After Ukraine Drone Attack Triggers Chaos

Three of Moscow’s four major airports were temporarily closed on Sunday after Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack targeting the Russian capital, causing flight disruptions and renewed security concerns.

According to Russian authorities, air traffic was halted at Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports for about an hour during the afternoon. The shutdown, which took place between 1300 GMT and 1400 GMT, led to delays for several domestic and international flights, including operations at Vnukovo, Moscow’s second-busiest airport.

Russia’s aviation regulator said the move was taken as a precaution to ensure passenger safety while air defence systems were active around the capital. Normal operations gradually resumed after the situation was brought under control.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defences intercepted and destroyed at least 27 drones that were heading towards the city. No major damage within Moscow was immediately reported, but the incident highlighted the growing reach of drone warfare deep inside Russian territory.

Ukraine did not issue an immediate statement on the strikes. Since the start of the conflict in 2022, Kyiv has increasingly relied on drone attacks, while also facing repeated aerial assaults on its own cities from Russian forces.

Separately, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, reported a deadly drone strike earlier in the day. A car carrying a family was hit, killing one person and injuring two others, including a four-year-old child.

The latest developments underline how the nearly four-year-long conflict continues to affect civilian life and critical infrastructure on both sides, with air travel and border regions increasingly caught in the crossfire.