Moscow Shuts Down All 4 Major International Airports After Destroying 11 Ukrainian Drones

Moscow: Due to safety concerns, all four international airports of the Russian capital were temporarily closed after several Ukrainian drones threatened the capital's airspace, officials said.

What is the reason of closure?

The four international airports of the Russian capital which were closed due to threat include Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky airports.

The closure affected the main gateways for both domestic and international flights in and out of Russia’s capital. 

The development came after Russian air-defence systems shot down at least 11 Ukrainian drones within about an hour that were heading toward Moscow, local officials told media.

What did the officials say?

The Russian civil aviation agency Rosaviatsia in a press release said that air traffic restrictions have been imposed at all four international airports, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo, due to safety concerns.

"Air defences have intercepted another UAV flying towards Moscow," mayor Sergey Sobyanin said on his Max channel.

"Thus, the total number of downed drones has reached 11," Sobyanin wrote in social media post.

The airport closures have led to delays and disruptions for travellers, though authorities later said that restrictions were temporary and aimed solely at safeguarding flight operations. 

Was Kyiv also targeted?

On the same day, Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched dozens of strike drones and missiles targeting energy infrastructure in Kyiv and other regions, killing at least one person and injuring others, as fires broke out in several localities.

Russia, which has been in war mode with its neighbour for four years, claims that Ukrainian drones regularly attack its different regions, including Moscow.