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Aviation disruptions and infrastructure threats in Russia

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2026-10-10 20:17 UTC → 2026-10-12 04:51 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Aviation services to Russia continue to face disruptions due to safety concerns regarding Russian airspace. Following earlier warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding drone activity, temporary airspace restrictions have become a recurring issue. In October, Moscow’s four major airports—Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky—experienced widespread disruptions linked to drone and balloon activity. These restrictions led to numerous flight cancellations and diversions for several international carriers. Turkish Airlines saw 11 flights from various Turkish cities to Vnukovo cancelled, with aircraft diverted to St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport or Minsk, Belarus. Pegasus Airlines reported delays exceeding 11 hours, while Flydubai and Georgian Airways also faced diversions and rerouting. Data indicated that Vnukovo was particularly impacted, with over 40 percent of flights delayed and approximately 10 percent cancelled. Beyond the Moscow region, Rosaviatsiya implemented preventive security protocols and temporary flight restrictions at three airports east and southeast of Moscow—Bugulma, Nizhnekamsk, and Nizhny Novgorod—following reports of potential Ukrainian drone incursions. Additionally, reports emerged of a fire at an oil terminal in the Rostov region, allegedly following a drone attack, highlighting increasing pressure on Russian civil and energy infrastructure. On October 9, a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow forced the closure of the four major airports, disrupting the return of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his delegation from a summit in Turkmenistan. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that 15 drones were shot down during the incident. FlightRadar24 data showed that aircraft from the ‘Rossiya Special Flight Squadron’ were forced to circle the capital or were diverted; notably, aircraft RA-96025, used by Putin during his arrival in Turkmenistan, was diverted to Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg before eventually landing in Moscow. On October 11, Moscow’s four major airports again temporarily suspended all flight operations due to approaching Ukrainian drones.

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