Drone Attacks Force Second Full Closure of All Four Moscow Airports

All four airports serving Moscow stopped accepting and dispatching aircraft on the afternoon of October 23, 2026, as Russian air defenses engaged drones approaching the capital — the second full closure of the capital's airport system in two days.

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) announced the restrictions at Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), Vnukovo (VKO) and Zhukovsky (ZIA) in a notice published at 14:05 Moscow time (11:05 UTC), citing flight safety. The full closure followed partial measures already in force: Vnukovo and Domodedovo had been handling flights only with clearance from the relevant authorities since 12:55 and 13:00 Moscow time respectively, according to earlier agency notices.

At 16:43 Moscow time, Rosaviatsiya said Vnukovo and Domodedovo had resumed operations under that clearance regime, after the restrictions were adjusted. As of that notice, the agency had announced no change at Sheremetyevo or Zhukovsky.

What did the disruption mean for operations?

The disruption reached at least one international widebody. An Emirates Airbus A380 operating flight EK133 from Dubai to Moscow Domodedovo was shown by Flightradar24 tracking data circling over Russia's Penza region, southeast of Moscow, while awaiting clearance to continue toward its destination.

Sheremetyevo activated its emergency procedures. Shortly before 15:00 Moscow time, the airport's press service declared an air raid alert and directed passengers to the nearest safe areas and shelters. Access to the secure airside areas of all terminals was restricted, and staff moved passengers into shelters, including those from aircraft parked on the airfield.

In a statement at 15:19 Moscow time, Rosaviatsiya said additional staff had been deployed at the terminals and airlines were adjusting their schedules. The agency noted that Russia's federal aviation rules, known as FAP-82, require carriers to provide passengers from delayed flights with refreshments and meals, and hotel accommodation for longer delays.

Unverified social media reports, including a post from the account Visegrád 24, claimed that drone debris fell on the runway at Sheremetyevo. These claims could not be independently verified.

How many drones were involved?

By 13:39 Moscow time — before the full closure — Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that air defenses had destroyed nine drones flying toward the city, with emergency services working where debris had fallen, according to the city government. He reported further interceptions after the airports were closed. The claims could not be independently verified.

The daytime wave followed an overnight attack in which, according to Sobyanin, 155 drones flew toward the Moscow region, five of which were downed on approach to the capital.

Is a pattern forming?

The October 23 shutdown was the second time in two days that Rosaviatsiya had closed all four Moscow airports. Agency notices show restrictions at Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky from 00:38 Moscow time on October 22, 2026, extended to Sheremetyevo at 02:44, and lifted at all four at 05:19.

The four airports also faced overnight restrictions from October 15 to October 16, 2026.

The repeated closures give weight to a September 1, 2026, statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who warned airlines that Russian airspace was becoming unsafe. For carriers still serving Moscow — including Emirates and other international operators — the frequency of full and partial closures now poses a structural planning problem: rotations into Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo carry a material risk of airborne holding, diversion or ground stoppages.

With three closure events affecting all four airports within eight days, and daytime attacks now producing the same restrictions previously seen mainly overnight, airlines operating to Moscow will likely need to reassess schedule buffers, fuel planning and crew rotations for the Russian capital.