Moscow, 28 December 2025 (dpa/MIA) – Ukraine has temporarily paralysed air traffic in the Russian capital with drone attacks on Moscow, shutting down hundreds of flights hours before the start of nationwide holidays, Russian authorities said.

At the Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports, no take-offs or landings were possible for hours, according to a spokesperson for the aviation authority. The Russian state news agency Ria Novosti reported overnight that more than 300 flights had to be cancelled or were delayed, with around 70 aircraft diverted to alternative airports.

Moscow's two other airports, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky, were not affected.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin had previously reported the interception of an unusually large number of Ukrainian drones – around 30 of them. The Russian Ministry of Defence reported a total of 273 drones shot down in the country. As usual, the ministry did not provide any information on damage.

Airlines also informed passengers about flight schedule changes in St Petersburg and other cities. The state-owned airline Aeroflot announced on Sunday morning that the planes diverted to alternative airports were expected to land in Moscow in the course of the day, adding that passengers and crews were being taken care of.

Flight schedules were expected to return to normal later on Sunday.

Thousands of passengers are repeatedly stranded at airports due to the drone threat, especially during the Russian holidays, which begin on December 31 and run through January 11.

Ukraine also reports renewed Russian drone attacks

Ukraine is fighting back with drone attacks against targets in Russia in response Russia's war against it that is now almost four years old. Moscow also uses drones on a daily basis.

Photo: epa