Ukraine Drone Strikes Shut Moscow Airports, Cancel Over 140 Flights

Moscow’s major airports were temporarily closed and more than 140 flights cancelled following a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack, Russian authorities confirmed on Sunday.

According to the Russian defence ministry, over 230 Ukrainian drones were intercepted across the country since Saturday morning, including 27 near the capital. The Kaluga region and areas near the Ukrainian border—Rostov, Bryansk, and the Black Sea—were also targeted. No fatalities were reported in Russia.

Russia’s aviation agency said the drone strikes caused widespread disruption at Moscow’s four main airports, with more than 130 flights redirected. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia reported that airport closures occurred 10 times within a 24-hour period. All affected airports have since resumed operations.

This marks another episode in a growing trend of aerial disruptions linked to the war. In May, similar drone barrages stranded at least 60,000 passengers nationwide.

Meanwhile, Ukraine faced fresh Russian airstrikes overnight, with regional officials reporting three civilian deaths—two in Donetsk and one in Sumy. Ukraine’s air force claimed it shot down 18 of 57 incoming Russian drones, with radar jamming downing seven more.

Other front-line areas including Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk also came under attack, with homes destroyed in Donetsk.

The exchange of air attacks comes amid renewed calls for peace. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin remains open to a peace settlement, but insisted Moscow’s goals must be achieved. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also signalled readiness to resume talks, even proposing a face-to-face meeting with Putin.

Ukraine’s negotiating hand received a boost this week when U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to supply advanced weapons through NATO and warned Russia of punitive tariffs unless a deal is reached within 50 days. Despite tensions, Peskov described Trump’s rhetoric as familiar and noted his stated commitment to a peaceful resolution.

The war, now in its fourth year, continues to escalate both militarily and diplomatically.