Air defences intercept dozens of drones as flights halt and Crimea tightens emergency measures
Russia temporarily closed all four major airports serving Moscow early Monday after air defence systems intercepted a large wave of drones approaching the capital, officials said, in the latest escalation of long-range attacks linked to the war in Ukraine.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said air defences destroyed 59 drones heading toward the city. He did not identify the source of the attack, but Kyiv has regularly launched drone strikes into Russian territory in response to Moscow’s bombardment of Ukrainian cities. Sobyanin said emergency teams were sent to the sites where debris fell, though he did not report immediate casualties or damage.
Russian aviation authorities suspended operations at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovskiy airports during the attack. However, the country’s aviation watchdog later announced that flights had resumed, with airport operations restarting at 5:39am local time.
Flights halted as Moscow activates air defences
The temporary airport shutdown disrupted air traffic across the Russian capital for several hours. Authorities moved quickly to halt take-offs and landings while air defence units responded to the incoming drones.
The incident followed another major aerial assault last week, when drones struck Moscow’s only oil refinery and Russian forces reportedly intercepted nearly 200 drones in one of the largest attacks on the capital since the war began in 2022.
Crimea imposes restrictions amid security fears
Meanwhile, authorities in Sevastopol, the largest city in Russian-annexed Crimea, introduced emergency restrictions in response to the growing threat. Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said all open-air public events had been cancelled, street lights would remain switched off, and residents had been asked to reduce electricity consumption.
In addition, Crimea suspended fuel sales to the general public and private businesses, reserving supplies only for government agencies handling essential services and security operations. The new measures underscored rising concern in Russian-controlled territories as drone attacks continue to widen beyond the battlefield.
