Moscow Airports Shut Down After Large-Scale Ukrainian Drone Attack

A large-scale Ukrainian drone attack effectively shut down air traffic over most of European Russia overnight, with all four Moscow airports — Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, and Sheremetyevo — suspending flight operations, according to Russia's independent media ASTRA and flight tracking service Flightradar24.

Empty Skies Over Russia

Flightradar24 data showed completely empty airspace over the vast majority of European Russia. Civilian aircraft were diverting en masse to avoid the area. The scale of the attack prompted a near-total shutdown of Russia's busiest aviation hub, with temporary flight restrictions imposed at all four airports simultaneously.

No-Fly Zone Over Central Russia

The attack represents one of the most disruptive Ukrainian drone operations against Russian territory to date, effectively grounding civilian air travel across an enormous swath of the country. Such operations serve both a military purpose and a psychological one, demonstrating Ukraine's ongoing capacity to reach deep into Russian territory despite the country's own air defense shortfalls.