Russian airports faced another wave of flight restrictions overnight on October 16 as drone attacks disrupted air traffic. More than 200 flights were delayed or canceled across Moscow and St. Petersburg, while Russian officials claimed that dozens of Ukrainian drones had been heading toward the capital.
The disruptions were reported by Meduza, citing Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, the Moskva news agency, and other Russian sources.
Flight restrictions began on the evening of October 15, affecting four major airports serving Moscow: Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky.
Normal operations were gradually restored only on the morning of October 16.
According to the Moskva news agency, nearly 160 flights were delayed or canceled in the Russian capital.
Sheremetyevo recorded 79 disrupted flights, while Vnukovo accounted for another 66.
Air travel was also severely affected in St. Petersburg, where Pulkovo Airport temporarily suspended operations. Restrictions remained in place until approximately 9 a.m.
According to Fontanka, 46 flights were delayed or canceled at Pulkovo, including 37 departures and nine arrivals.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed that Russian air defenses had intercepted 94 Ukrainian drones approaching the capital since the previous evening. The reported number has not been independently verified.
Such incidents are becoming an increasingly persistent problem for Russian civilian aviation.
According to calculations published by the independent Russian outlet Agentstvo, Moscow’s four airports were subject to restrictions for a combined 101 hours during the first 14 days of October.
By comparison, the total for the entire month of September was just 46 hours.
This means that in only two weeks, the accumulated duration of flight restrictions more than doubled the previous month’s figure.
Repeated airport closures are creating logistical difficulties for airlines and passengers while disrupting domestic and international air travel.
As Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine continues, the effects of drone warfare are increasingly being felt in everyday life inside Russia.
Sources: Meduza, Rosaviatsiya, Moskva news agency, Fontanka, October 16, 2026.
