Moscow airports face near-daily closures amid Ukrainian drone attacks
DW, citing Agentstvo, reports suspensions lasting up to nine hours on some days at Moscow’s four airports, repeatedly interrupting flights.
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DW, citing Agentstvo, reports suspensions lasting up to nine hours on some days at Moscow’s four airports, repeatedly interrupting flights.
Moscow’s Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, Zhukovsky and Vnukovo airports have suspended operations almost daily in October amid repeated Ukrainian drone attacks, DW reports, citing the independent investigative outlet Agentstvo. On 23 October, Russia’s aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, said all four airports were closed to arrivals and departures, according to Civic.am.
Some October closures reportedly lasted up to nine hours. The disruption follows months of drone-related flight suspensions in Russia and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s announcement in early September that Ukraine would seek to cut off airspace around Moscow and other Russian destinations. Ukraine’s own airspace has been closed since Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Sheremetyevo announced an air alert and instructed passengers to move to nearby safe areas and shelters, Civic.am reported on 23 October. Domodedovo said temporary restrictions were causing changes to flight schedules. Vnukovo also announced its closure, attributing the measure to safety considerations.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed that at least 11 drones had been shot down while approaching the capital over several hours on 23 October, according to Civic.am.
Rosaviatsiya has an emergency safety procedure known as the “carpet” protocol. It is designed to close airspace immediately over a region or around affected airports when an aircraft violates Russian airspace, weapons are used or unidentified objects appear. Once activated, it imposes extensive restrictions on all air traffic in the affected area.
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Oleksandr Laneckij, chief executive of the Friendly Avia Support consultancy, told DW that every drone poses a military threat. Military analyst Jan Matvejev said even simple drones without explosive warheads or long range could trigger the protocol. In his assessment, Ukraine could have the resources needed to shut Moscow’s airports.
That assessment is distinct from a complete closure of Russian airspace. Matvejev said Ukraine had not achieved that goal, although its armed forces remained committed to it.
Analysis
Whether international airlines suspend flights to Russia will depend on the military threat, passenger demand and insurance costs, Laneckij told DW. If insurers judge flights to Russia to be very high-risk, he said, they could substantially raise insurance rates, driving ticket prices sharply higher. He described a conditional scenario, not an increase already imposed.
For passengers affected by the 23 October restrictions, Vnukovo advised preparing for prolonged waits, including aboard aircraft, according to Civic.am.
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