Moscow Airports Temporarily Close Amidst Ukrainian Drone Attacks

All international airports in Moscow were temporarily closed on Sunday, February 22, 2026, following a barrage of Ukrainian drone attacks. Several drones were reportedly shot down as they approached the city.

Airport Closures and Restrictions

The temporary closure affected four international airports in Moscow: Domodedovo Airport, Vnukovo Airport, Zhukovsky Airport, and Sheremetyevo Airport. Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, imposed air traffic restrictions starting Sunday afternoon local time, with no immediate indication of when normal operations would resume. Reuters is providing ongoing coverage of the situation.

Details of the Drone Attacks

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that at least 11 Ukrainian drones were intercepted within an hour on Sunday. “Air defenses have intercepted another UAV flying towards Moscow,” Sobyanin stated via his Telegram channel, adding that the total number of downed drones reached 11. The Associated Press reported on the attacks, noting that this is part of a pattern of Kyiv drones targeting various parts of Russian territory, including the capital.

Broader Context of the Conflict

As the war in Ukraine approaches its fourth year, Russia continues to target Ukrainian territory with missile and drone attacks. Recent trilateral talks involving the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia, aimed at finding a path to peace, have shown limited progress. The Kyiv Independent reports that Russia has restated its demands, while the U.S. Continues to push for a diplomatic resolution. Separate talks in Geneva earlier in February as well ended with little advancement, as highlighted by The Independent.

Recent Developments in Ukraine

Ukraine has also been actively striking targets within Russia. On Saturday, Ukrainian forces struck a key missile factory in Russia’s Udmurt Republic, reportedly wounding 11 people. The attack utilized Ukrainian-made FP-5 “Flamingo” cruise missiles.