Drone (UAV) attacks over Moscow’s airspace on the night of 28 May brought air traffic in the region to a near standstill. At least 78 flights were delayed at Vnukovo Airport, and numerous international flights—including Turkish Airlines services—were either cancelled or severely delayed.
Russia’s capital was once again targeted by a coordinated wave of drone strikes. The attacks, launched during the night of 28 May, caused widespread disruption across seven airports in Moscow. Vnukovo Airport, a key hub for Turkish Airlines, was among the most affected.
According to Rosaviatsiya (Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency), Vnukovo alone experienced delays in 62 departures and 16 arrivals, totalling 78 disrupted flights. Some delays lasted up to six hours, while several flights to and from Turkey were fully cancelled.
Flights Diverted to Pulkovo, Routes Altered
Following the drone strikes, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports temporarily restricted air traffic. Several international flights were forced to divert to Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. At Domodedovo, another major airport in Moscow, 27 departures were delayed. Zhukovsky Airport saw five delayed flights.
Seven Airports Affected in One Night
Authorities reported that a total of seven airports across Russia were impacted. These include Vladimir (Semyazino), Ivanovo (Yuzhny), Kostroma (Sokerkino), Yaroslavl (Tunoshna), and Kaluga (Grabtsevo).
33 Drones Neutralised – Major Damage Prevented
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced that air defence systems successfully shot down 33 drones. Another drone was intercepted early in the morning over the Zelenograd district.
In a statement on social media, Sobyanin said: “Preliminary reports indicate that there were no serious casualties or major damage.” Footage from the scene showed a parked vehicle near a tech park catching fire and shattered windows in nearby buildings.
