A large-scale drone attack on Russian regions early Monday morning led to temporary restrictions at eight Russian airports, forcing the diversion of over 50 flights bound for Moscow. The disruption affected major hubs, including Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky, and Sheremetyevo, which resumed normal operations by 9:00 AM local time.
Mass Flight Diversions and Delays
During the attack, 64 aircraft en route to Moscow were redirected to alternative airports. Of these, 26 were headed for Domodedovo, 18 each for Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo, and two for Zhukovsky. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called the attack the largest drone assault on the capital to date. Russian air defenses reportedly intercepted 74 drones approaching the city.
Airlines swiftly adjusted their schedules in response. Aeroflot redirected several Moscow-bound flights to Kazan, St. Petersburg, Samara, Ufa, Saratov, and Syktyvkar. S7 Airlines, operating out of Domodedovo, was also forced to reroute flights, delaying services to Dubai (S7-3775), Antalya (S7-3739), and Adler (S7-2043), while canceling flights to Ufa (S7-1137) and Samara (S7-1073).
Nationwide Disruptions
At 6:30 AM, flight restrictions were also imposed on Kazan’s airport but were lifted by 9:00 AM. At least two flights were diverted. Additional security measures were enacted at airports in Astrakhan, Volgograd, Yaroslavl, and Nizhny Novgorod, which were the last to resume normal operations.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that a total of 337 drones were shot down overnight across multiple regions. Officials confirmed at least 20 injuries and three deaths in the Moscow region. Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched a terrorism-related criminal case in connection with the incident.
The timing of the strikes is notable, occurring just hours before high-level delegations from Kyiv and the United States were set to meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss potential pathways to ending the conflict. The attack serves as a stark reminder that, despite enduring significant losses and Russian offensives, Ukraine retains the capability to strike deep inside Russian territory.
