Ukrainian drones force closure of all four Moscow airports overnight, cancelling dozens of flights

All four of Moscow’s main airports—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo—closed overnight. Their suspensions lasted as long as seven hours, disrupting civilian air travel across the capital. More than 160 flights were cancelled.

The closures were linked to Ukrainian drones approaching Moscow. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 94 drones heading towards the capital had been shot down. Russian officials also reported drone activity near St Petersburg, where Pulkovo airport twice halted operations that night.

The immediate result was a large interruption to flights arriving in or leaving Moscow. The article does not give a full breakdown of delays, diversions or stranded passengers. It also notes that Euronews could not independently verify the official claims, so the reported drone numbers and their direct effect remain unconfirmed.

A drone is an aircraft operated remotely or by onboard systems, without a pilot sitting inside it. Drones range from small commercial devices to larger military systems. The article describes Ukrainian drones approaching Moscow and says Russian officials reported shooting some down.

An approaching drone can make an airport suspend operations because aircraft may share nearby airspace during take-off, landing and ground movement. Controllers need time to identify the object and assess its direction. Authorities may also restrict flights while air-defence forces respond. This reduces the chance of a collision or of civilian aircraft entering a dangerous area.

The article gives a real example: Moscow’s four main airports stopped operating for up to seven hours, and more than 160 flights were cancelled. It does not describe the specific procedures used at each airport. Euronews also could not independently verify the reported drone claims.

The scale of the disruption grew dramatically. According to Russian investigative outlet Agentstvo, Moscow’s four airports were closed for 101 hours during the first 14 days of October. Across the whole of September, they had closed for 46 hours. October’s partial-month figure was therefore more than twice September’s full-month total.

The comparison matters because it shows repeated interruptions, not just one isolated shutdown. During one overnight incident, Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo stopped operations for up to seven hours. More than 160 flights were cancelled, while Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg halted operations twice during the same night.

The article also reports that Ukraine conducted close to 500 drones in one of its largest operations against Moscow on Tuesday. However, Euronews could not independently verify the official claims. The figures still indicate a rapidly worsening pattern of airport disruption in early October.

Repeated airport closures create immediate problems for passengers and airlines. Travellers can face cancellations, long waits, missed connections and difficulty reaching their destination. Airlines must adjust schedules, keep aircraft on the ground or find another airport that can accept them. More than 160 flights were cancelled during the reported Moscow shutdown.

Arriving aircraft may be held away from the affected airport, while departing flights may remain at the gate. Some flights can be diverted to another airport, but that depends on available runway space, weather, staff and safe airspace. The article provides one high-profile example: Vladimir Putin’s presidential aircraft reportedly diverted to St Petersburg instead of landing in Moscow.

The wider effect is uncertainty for Russian air travel. Moscow’s four airports closed for 101 hours in the first 14 days of October, compared with 46 hours across September. The article does not quantify passenger losses or financial costs, but repeated interruptions can make schedules unreliable and strain alternative airports.

The article presents the reported drone activity as part of Ukraine’s wider wartime campaign against Russia. Kyiv has targeted Russian military, energy and commercial facilities. It says these attacks seek to defund Moscow’s war machine while the full-scale war in Ukraine continues into its fifth year.

Areas around Moscow matter because disruption there can affect the capital’s transport system and draw attention to the vulnerability of Russian airspace. The article reports close to 500 drones in one large operation against Moscow. It also says Moscow’s airports were repeatedly closed, although Ukraine has not officially confirmed an organised campaign to shut Russian airports.

The reported campaign has been called “Operation M&Ms” by media outlets. Reports say Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not authorised a more aggressive original plan. In September, he said Russian skies were becoming unsafe and urged international airlines to stop flying to Russian airports. Euronews could not independently verify the claims.

During a drone threat, airports may continue limited operations if authorities judge the airspace safe. They can increase monitoring, restrict movement near the suspected threat and coordinate closely with air-traffic control and air-defence units. If the risk cannot be contained, suspending take-offs and landings is the safer option.

Aircraft then have several possible outcomes. A departing flight can remain on the ground or be cancelled. An arriving aircraft can hold away from the airport or divert to another location with open, safe operations. The article reports that Vladimir Putin’s presidential aircraft, returning from Turkmenistan, was reportedly unable to land in Moscow on 9 October and diverted to St Petersburg.

Moscow’s airports instead suspended operations for up to seven hours during the reported overnight attack. More than 160 flights were cancelled. Pulkovo also halted operations twice that night. The article does not identify every diversion or explain which specific safety measures airports used.

Air-traffic control manages civilian aircraft movements. It knows where flights are, separates them from one another and can stop departures or redirect arrivals. Air-defence systems focus on detecting and responding to hostile or unidentified objects. When airspace is threatened, the two systems must exchange information quickly.

For example, controllers can hold an arriving aircraft, keep a departing flight on the ground or route a flight toward another airport. Air-defence authorities can identify the suspected threat and announce areas that civilian aircraft must avoid. This coordination helps prevent civilian planes from entering the same space as a drone or defensive response.

The article describes the result of such a threat response, though it does not detail the coordination process. Moscow’s four airports closed for up to seven hours, and more than 160 flights were cancelled. Pulkovo airport also halted operations twice. Officials reported drones being destroyed, but Euronews could not independently verify the claims.