A wave of Ukrainian drone attacks over the weekend temporarily grounded air travel across Moscow and parts of western Russia, forcing major airport closures and widespread flight cancellations.
According to Russian officials, more than 230 drones were intercepted over Russian territory since Saturday morning — 27 of them over Moscow alone. The relentless barrage prompted the temporary shutdown of all four major airports serving the Russian capital, resulting in over 140 flights cancelled and more than 130 redirected.
Russia’s aviation watchdog confirmed the disruption but said normal operations have since resumed. However, Moscow’s airspace was reportedly closed 10 times in 24 hours, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (Ator), reflecting the severity of the threat and the scale of Ukraine’s continued drone campaign.
The Kaluga region, located southwest of Moscow, was also impacted, with Kaluga International Airport temporarily closed after 45 drones were intercepted in the area, Russia’s Ministry of Defence reported.
Drone activity was also recorded in border regions including Rostov and Bryansk, as well as over the Black Sea. Despite the intensity of the attacks, no fatalities were reported in Russia.
Civilian Impact in Ukraine
Meanwhile, the human cost of the ongoing conflict continues to rise. At least three people were killed in overnight Russian air strikes on Ukrainian territory, according to regional Ukrainian officials. Civilian infrastructure and residential buildings were among the reported targets.
Not the First Disruption
This isn’t the first instance of Ukraine’s drone strategy grounding Russian air travel. In May 2025, a similar offensive saw over 500 drones launched within 24 hours, stranding more than 60,000 passengers at airports nationwide, according to Russia’s defence ministry.
As both sides escalate their use of drones in the conflict, the skies over Eastern Europe remain as volatile as ever — and increasingly dangerous, not just for military targets but for civilians and commercial travel as well.
