After a wave of drone attacks targeted the Moscow region, flights across several major airports — including Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky — were delayed or canceled, leaving thousands of travelers stranded. In a rare gesture of empathy and readiness, Sheremetyevo Airport has set up special rest areas with mattresses, prioritizing families with children and passengers facing long waits.

Over the past several days, airspace restrictions have been repeatedly introduced due to Ukrainian drone activity, temporarily halting both arrivals and departures. While flights are now operating without formal restrictions, departures continue to follow a revised protocol:
“Arrival flights are accepted as they land; departures proceed in order of aircraft readiness,” airport officials stated.

Since the start of the peak travel season in May 2025, Russian travelers have been caught in a series of escalating aviation crises. With three major waves of airport shutdowns occurring in early May, June, and July, disruptions to air traffic have become an almost daily challenge.

Between 1 May and 21 June, Russian airports were closed more than 260 times—primarily due to restricted airspace caused by drone activity and air defense operations. On average, 30 to 40 airports experience temporary closures every month.

Moscow Airports Among the Most Affected

The capital’s air hub has been hit particularly hard. In under three months, Domodedovo was shut down over 20 times, accumulating more than 60 hours of downtime—the highest among major Russian airports. Vnukovo followed with over 45 hours, while Sheremetyevo saw more than 30 hours of closures. Even Zhukovsky was affected, closing nearly 20 times.

In St. Petersburg, Pulkovo Airport was closed nearly 15 times, with shutdowns totaling almost 40 hours, especially intense in July.