Ukrainian drones shut all four Moscow airports overnight, with over 160 flights cancelled
Drone attacks overnight into 16 October closed Moscow's Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo airports for up to seven hours, cancelling more than 160 flights. Russian officials say 94 drones heading for the capital were shot down.
Ukrainian drones forced all four of the Russian capital's main airports — Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo — to close overnight into 16 October. Operations were suspended for up to seven hours and more than 160 flights were cancelled. The disruption comes as Russia's all-out war in Ukraine continues into its fifth year, with Kyiv striking Russian military, energy and commercial facilities in an effort to reduce funding for Moscow's war effort.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 94 drones heading towards the capital had been shot down. St Petersburg's Pulkovo airport also had to halt operations twice during the night. Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, said four drones were destroyed over the area. Euronews could not independently verify these claims.
Closures becoming more frequent
According to Agentstvo, a Russian investigative outlet, Moscow's four airports were closed for a total of 101 hours in the first 14 days of October, against 46 hours in all of September. On Tuesday, Ukraine carried out one of its largest drone operations against the Russian capital, using close to 500 drones.
Multiple reports say that on 9 October, President Vladimir Putin's plane, returning from a summit in Turkmenistan, could not land in Moscow because of a drone attack and was diverted to St Petersburg. The aircraft was not reported to have been a direct target. Russian officials have neither confirmed nor denied the reports.
Official positions
Ukraine has not officially confirmed an organised campaign to shut Russian airports, which media have dubbed "Operation M&Ms". According to reports, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not yet authorised the military to proceed with the original, more aggressive plan for such a campaign. In September, Zelenskyy said Russian skies "are becoming unsafe" and urged international airlines to stop flying to Russian airports.
US President Donald Trump again criticised Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries in an interview, calling them "a disgrace". His comments followed a surprise announcement of a deal to buy diesel from the Kremlin. Trump said there are many targets, but that by hitting refineries producing diesel, Zelenskyy "is not doing the world a favour".
