live Moscow airports shut following Zelenskyy's threat to make Russian airspace 'unsafe'

Moscow airports shut following Zelenskyy's threat to make Russian airspace 'unsafe'
Planes are parked at Sheremetyevo International Airport outside Moscow, Russia, 19 July 2026.
Reuters

Several Moscow airports suspended the reception and departure of flights overnight, days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russia's airspace was becoming "completely unsafe," due to drones and would "effectively be closing."

⦿ 03:16 GMT | UPDATE

Moscow's two busiest airports close for second consecutive night 

Moscow's two busiest airports suspended operations for the second night in a row following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's threats to make Russia's airspace "completely unsafe," with drones. 

Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports paused the arrival and departure of flights, while Moscow's fourth busiest airport, Zhukovsky International Airport, also introduced restrictions, according to Russia's Civil Aviation Authority. 

Flight suspensions also affected the Black Sea airports of Gelendzhik and Sochi, as well as Penza Airport in western Russia and Saratov Gagarin Airport in the southwest of the country. 

Russia's Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement saying that all documents published by Ukraine about Russia's airspace have "no legal force," adding that it was taking measures to ensure the safety of the country's airspace. 

Air traffic over Moscow on Thursday morning. Screenshot of flightradar24 flight tracker on 3 September 2026.
Flightradar24

⦿ 03:00 GMT | UPDATE

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