Massive Drone Assault Disrupts Russian Airports, Leaving Thousands Stranded

Ukraine executed its largest drone offensive against Russia, causing significant travel disruptions late Tuesday and early Wednesday, which included multiple airport closures in Moscow and its vicinity.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that it intercepted 524 Ukrainian drones nationwide overnight, marking the most extensive drone onslaught since President Vladimir Putin initiated the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The military also stated that several rockets were destroyed in the operation.

As a result of the aerial assault, civil aviation authorities temporarily suspended flights at Moscow’s airports, including Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky, as well as in Nizhny Novgorod, Kirov, Yaroslavl, Kazan, and other locations, warning travelers of potential flight cancellations.

«The measures were taken to ensure the safety of commercial flights,» said Artyom Korenyako, a representative of Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency.

Major airlines, such as Aeroflot, Pobeda, and S7, advised passengers to be prepared for interruptions, canceling hundreds of flights scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. S7 also announced it would fully refund passengers for canceled flights or allow ticket exchanges for other available flights.

Dozens of flights were postponed at Domodedovo Airport, and similar issues were reported at other airports in Moscow and across Russia.

In Siberia, transport officials noted that over 4,000 passengers were stranded at airports in ten cities. The ongoing disruptions were primarily due to delays in flights arriving as a result of restrictions at Moscow airports.

Russia’s Association of Tour Operators later indicated that at least 60,000 passengers had been affected by delays and cancellations by Wednesday afternoon.

«Because of the complexities involved in how airlines plan their schedules, these delays and cancellations are not likely to be the end: aircraft that miss their intended arrival times will cause further delays for subsequent flights,» the organization was quoted as saying by Kommersant.

These airport closures coincided with the anticipated arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow for discussions with President Vladimir Putin and attendance at the May 9 Victory Day parade on Red Square. As reported by the exiled news outlet Agentstvo, foreign dignitaries often arrive at Vnukovo during official visits to Russia.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that air defense forces intercepted eight drones on Tuesday night and another nine early Wednesday, marking the third consecutive day of drone assaults targeting the capital.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, stated that the nighttime attacks aimed at the Kubinka airbase in the Moscow region and the Shaykovka airfield in the Kaluga region.

Meanwhile, Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that two individuals lost their lives due to Russian drone strikes in the Ukrainian capital.