Russia faced fresh aviation disruption on Friday, October 16, after suspected Ukrainian drone attacks forced all four major airports serving Moscow to suspend
operations overnight, leading to widespread flight delays and cancellations. The restrictions affected Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports from Thursday evening into Friday morning, according to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia. St Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport also suspended operations, while temporary restrictions were imposed at airports in several other Russian cities. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defence systems had shot down 94 drones heading towards the capital since Thursday evening. The figure was reported by multiple news outlets, citing his statements. Hundreds Of Flights Delayed Or Cancelled The airport shutdowns disrupted services across Russia, leaving passengers facing delays and cancellations. According to the Moskva news agency, cited by Meduza, almost 160 flights were delayed or cancelled at Moscow airports, with Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo among the worst affected. A separate tally published by Airports.ru on Friday morning reported 693 delayed flights and 255 cancellations across Russian airports. These figures cover a broader group of airports and should not be confused with the Moscow-only estimate. At St Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport, local outlet Fontanka reported that 37 departing flights and nine arriving flights were delayed or cancelled. Restrictions at Pulkovo continued into Friday morning before being lifted later in the day. Moscow Airport Closures Rise In October The latest disruption comes amid increasingly frequent temporary closures of Moscow’s airports during drone alerts. According to calculations by the independent Russian investigative outlet Agentstvo, the four Moscow airports were closed for a combined 101 hours during the first 14 days of October. That was more than double the 46 hours recorded across the whole of September. The repeated shutdowns have created significant challenges for airlines and passengers, as security-related restrictions can interrupt flight schedules at short notice. Ukrainian drone operations have increasingly targeted locations deep inside Russian territory during the war, while Russian authorities have repeatedly announced interceptions by air defence systems. However, the precise impact of individual drone attacks on airport operations can vary. Disruption Extends Beyond Moscow Rosaviatsia reported temporary restrictions at airports across multiple Russian regions overnight, reflecting the wider impact of drone alerts on civil aviation. The latest incident underscores the vulnerability of Russia’s aviation network to repeated security disruptions. Passengers travelling through Moscow, St Petersburg and other affected cities should check with their airlines and airports for the latest departure information, as schedules may change when restrictions are imposed.
