All four Moscow airports suspend flights over drone alert

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, imposed restrictions on 23 October, in a notice published at 14:05 Moscow time, that halted arrivals and departures at Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky airports, citing flight safety, according to AeroTime. Vnukovo and Domodedovo had been under partial restrictions since 12:55 and 13:00.

Sheremetyevo declared an air raid alert and asked passengers to go to shelters, according to AeroTime and Kyiv Post. Vnukovo warned of long waits, including on board aircraft, and Domodedovo said it was adjusting its schedule, according to Kyiv Post.

According to AeroTime, Vnukovo and Domodedovo resumed operations under a permit-based regime at 16:43; at that time there were no reported changes at Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky. The outlet adds that all four airports had already been closed in the early hours of 22 October, between 00:38 and 05:19.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported drones intercepted as they approached the city; the figures differ depending on the time and the outlet reporting them and cannot be independently verified. The Russian authorities blame Ukraine for the attacks; the sources consulted do not report any claim of responsibility from Kyiv. There is no official tally of flights or passengers affected.