Flights at all major Moscow airports were temporarily suspended on Thursday after Ukraine launched what Russian officials described as one of the largest drone attacks on the Russian capital in recent years.
Russia's aviation agency imposed temporary restrictions on air traffic as air defence systems responded to the attack, Reuters reported. Moscow's busiest airport, Sheremetyevo, evacuated passengers to safe locations and restricted flight operations during the barrage. Authorities also reported disruptions at other airports serving the capital.
The flight restrictions came as Russian officials said hundreds of Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow and surrounding regions overnight, prompting heightened security measures across the capital.
Drone attack triggers fires, evacuations
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defence forces were repelling a "large-scale attack" and that several drones managed to reach the Moscow Oil Refinery. Traffic was closed on roads near the facility, while Russian media outlets reported a fire at the site.
Authorities also reported that a drone struck an apartment building in the Moscow region district of Zhukovsky. In another incident, falling drone debris sparked a fire at a shopping centre near Moscow's suburbs.
According to Russian officials, air defence systems shot down 180 drones approaching Moscow, while the defence ministry said more than 500 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across the country overnight. Russia's state-run TASS news agency described it as the largest attack on Moscow in at least two years.
The attack occurred hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to host Southeast Asian leaders at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in the city of Kazan.
Ukraine expands long-range drone campaign
Ukraine has intensified drone strikes inside Russia in recent months, increasingly targeting oil refineries and energy facilities. Kyiv argues that such infrastructure helps fund Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
The latest attack comes as efforts to reach a diplomatic settlement remain stalled. Despite international calls for negotiations, the conflict continues with both sides carrying out long-range attacks.
Since Russia launched its military offensive in Ukraine in 2022, aerial attacks have become a regular feature of the conflict. Russia has carried out frequent drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, while Kyiv has expanded its ability to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.
Russia's economy has also faced mounting pressure from the prolonged war, including inflation, labour shortages and high borrowing costs. At the same time, Ukraine has increased attacks on Russian soil as fighting continues across multiple fronts.
The temporary suspension of flights at Moscow's airports highlights how the conflict is increasingly affecting civilian infrastructure and transportation networks far beyond the battlefield.
(With inputs from agencies)
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