Moscow airports close amid Ukrainian drone attacks

January 04, 2026 / 8:23 PM

Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport

Sharjah 24 – AFP: Three of Moscow’s four airports were temporarily shut on Sunday after Ukraine launched dozens of drones at the Russian capital, causing multiple flight delays. Vnukovo, Moscow’s second-busiest airport, was among those affected.

Safety measures and partial reopening

Russian aviation regulator Rosaviatsia announced the closures between 13:00 and 14:00 GMT, with spokesperson Artem Korenyako stating on Telegram that the restrictions were “necessary to ensure flight safety.” The airports—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky—partially reopened less than an hour later.

Russian air defences respond

Russian air defences intercepted at least 27 drones targeting Moscow, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has repeatedly restricted its airspace in response to Ukrainian drone strikes.

Drone strike in Belgorod

Earlier Sunday, a Ukrainian drone strike hit a car in Belgorod, near the Ukrainian border, killing one person and injuring two others, including a four-year-old child, local authorities reported.