Moscow Airports Temporarily Shut Down Following Ukrainian Drone Attacks

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 2103 EAT on Sunday 20 July 2025

Ukrainian Drone Attacks Disrupt Moscow Airports, Over 140 Flights Cancelled

A sustained wave of Ukrainian drone attacks forced Moscow’s major airports to temporarily close, leading to the cancellation of at least 140 flights, Russian officials said.

According to the Russian Defence Ministry, more than 230 Ukrainian drones have been intercepted over Russian territory since Saturday morning, including 27 over the capital.

Russia’s aviation watchdog confirmed that all four major airports serving Moscow experienced disruptions, with over 130 flights diverted. Normal operations have since resumed.

Meanwhile, at least three people were killed in overnight Russian air strikes on Ukraine, according to regional Ukrainian officials.

Repeated Drone Strikes Cause Widespread Travel Disruptions Across Russia

Russia’s Association of Tour Operators (Ator) reported on Sunday that Moscow’s airports were forced to shut down 10 times within a 24-hour period due to ongoing Ukrainian drone strikes.

The Kaluga region, located southwest of Moscow, also experienced disruptions. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, 45 drones were intercepted in the area since Saturday morning, prompting the temporary closure of Kaluga International Airport.

Drones were also reportedly downed over several other regions near the Ukrainian border, including Rostov and Bryansk, as well as over the Black Sea. No casualties were reported in these incidents.

This marks the latest in a series of drone attacks that have disrupted air travel in Russia. In May, more than 60,000 passengers were stranded at airports across the country after Kyiv launched over 500 drones in a single day, according to Russian officials.

Russian Air Strikes Kill Civilians in Ukraine as Drone Attacks Intensify

Regional authorities in Ukraine reported that two people were killed in separate Russian air strikes across Donetsk, while a 78-year-old woman died after residential buildings caught fire during shelling in the Sumy region.

Ukraine’s air force said it had intercepted 18 out of 57 Russian drones launched overnight into Sunday. An additional seven drones were reportedly lost after their navigation systems were jammed.

Alongside Sumy and Donetsk, other front-line regions—including Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia—were also targeted in the wave of overnight attacks.

Kremlin Signals Willingness for Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict

The latest attacks come as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that President Vladimir Putin is prepared to pursue a peace settlement with Ukraine, though Moscow’s priority remains to “achieve our goals.”

“President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy,” Peskov said in a televised interview.

Nearly three and a half years have passed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a fresh round of talks with Moscow aimed at restarting negotiations, which stalled last month. Previous attempts at peace talks have failed to secure a ceasefire but have led to prisoner exchanges.

Zelensky Reaffirms Willingness for Direct Talks as US Pledges Military Support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his readiness to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin face-to-face, emphasizing that “a meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace.”

This week, Ukraine received a significant boost when former US President Donald Trump—who has previously expressed support and admiration for Putin—announced that the US would send “top-of-the-line weapons” to Ukraine through NATO countries.

Trump also warned Russia of severe tariffs if a peace deal is not reached within 50 days, while he was “disappointed” with Putin, he was “not done” trying to facilitate a resolution.

Responding in a Sunday interview, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “Everyone has grown accustomed to his [Trump’s] rather harsh and straightforward rhetoric. At the same time, he reaffirms his intention to continue doing everything possible to facilitate a peaceful settlement.”

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