All Four Moscow Airports Halt Flights Amid Reports of Drones Approaching the Capital

All four of Moscow’s major airports suspended arrivals and departures on October 23 amid reports of a large-scale drone attack, while an evacuation was reported at a government office complex in Moscow City.

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, announced the restrictions on its official Telegram channel, identifying Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports.

"The restrictions are necessary to ensure flight safety," the agency stated, without specifying how long the measures would remain in force. The restrictions took effect at 2:05 p.m. Moscow time.

All four airports remained closed to incoming and outgoing flights as of 3:55 p.m., according to the Russian flight-monitoring services. At Sheremetyevo Airport, authorities declared an air raid alert and began evacuating passengers to designated shelters amid the drone threat.

At the same time, Russian Telegram channels reported that fragments of a drone fell on the grounds of Sheremetyevo Airport during the attack.

The airport shutdown coincided with Russian reports of drones approaching Moscow. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed that Russian air defenses had intercepted several drones heading toward the capital, while residents reported hearing explosions in parts of the Moscow metropolitan area.

Read more

Category

World

Why Moscow Pilots Sounded Alarm Over Russia’s Use of Airports

May 19, 2026 16:16

The disruption also extended beyond Moscow. Kaluga's Grabtsevo Airport, southwest of the Russian capital, suspended flight operations at 12:56 p.m., with restrictions still in place at the latest reported update.

Drone threats have repeatedly disrupted civilian aviation in and around Moscow. On October 22, Russian authorities also suspended operations at all four major airports during another reported drone attack, forcing airlines to adjust schedules and cancel flights.

Meanwhile, Russian outlets reported an evacuation from the IQ-Kvartal tower in the Moscow City business district, citing eyewitnesses. The building houses offices of Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, Ministry of Economic Development, and Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Read more

Category

War in Ukraine

How Ukraine Turned the War Back on Russian Soil: A Timeline

Apr 03, 2026 16:59

The disruptions extend a pattern of drone-driven airport shutdowns around the Russian capital, with a similar closure a week earlier during overnight attacks on October 16 that targeted Moscow, the Moscow region, and the Vladimir and Rostov regions.

All four Moscow airports suspended operations at the time, and more than 20 aircraft were diverted to alternative airports. Moscow officials claimed 94 drones heading toward the capital were intercepted overnight, while falling debris in the Rostov region sparked a fire at production and warehouse facilities and injured a man in the Aksay district.

Those strikes came after Russia launched more than 850 Shahed-type drones against Ukraine between the start of October 14 and 9 a.m. on October 15.

Help Ukrainian Units Hold the Drone Line

Download APP