All four Moscow airports—Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky—were closed on Friday. Aircraft were unable to land or take off, according to Russia’s aviation regulator.
An air raid alert was issued at Sheremetyevo Airport. Passengers were told to head to the nearest safe areas and shelters.
Officials at Domodedovo announced that, due to temporary restrictions, “adjustments are being made to the flight schedule”.
Vnukovo Airport said flight restrictions had been imposed “due to safety concerns.” Passengers were advised to “be prepared for long waits,” including on board aircraft.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in recent hours that at least 11 drones had been shot down as they approached the Russian capital, Meduza reports.
Images showing drone debris on a runway at Sheremetyevo Airport have surfaced on Telegram channels. Preliminary reports suggest that passengers were evacuated, though no alert was issued.
A building in the Russian capital housing several ministries was also reportedly evacuated.
On September 1, Volodymyr Zelensky warned airlines that Russian skies were “becoming dangerous.” Kyiv threatened to disrupt flights, while the Kremlin denounced the warning as “terrorism.”
Over the past two months, Moscow’s airports have repeatedly been closed due to drone threats. In mid-October, reports emerged that Ukraine’s “closure of the skies” over Russia was only just beginning, following talks between Kyiv and its partners. These reports have not been officially confirmed.
