Drone attack threat leads to restrictions at Moscow airports and evacuation at Sheremetyevo

2026-10-24

On October 23, temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures were imposed at all four Moscow airports: Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo.
An air-raid alert was declared at Sheremetyevo over the threat of a drone attack, and passengers were evacuated to safe areas; after the alert was lifted, they returned to the terminals.
Later, Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky resumed operations, while Vnukovo and Domodedovo handled arrivals and departures in coordination with the authorities.
Airlines adjusted their schedules; more than 20 flights bound for Moscow airports were diverted to other cities.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that air defenses had shot down 21 drones heading toward the capital in two hours.