Drones force Moscow airport shutdowns as Russia claims 74 intercepted

Russian air defences claimed to have intercepted 74 drones approaching Moscow overnight on 28–29 October, forcing flight restrictions at three of the capital's airports and prompting reports of explosions southwest of the city.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin initially put the intercept count at 57 before raising it to 74 by around 2:15 a.m. Moscow time. Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, imposed temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures at Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports, citing aviation safety. Zhukovsky's restrictions were lifted roughly an hour later; Vnukovo and Domodedovo continued operating under special coordination procedures.

Two aircraft flying from Turkey to Moscow turned back because of the closure at Vnukovo, according to the independent Russian outlet ASTRA, which cited TASS and air traffic control data.

Residents of Naro-Fominsk — approximately 56 kilometres from the Moscow Ring Road — reported hearing at least three explosions, despite not hearing drones overhead. Others described repeated blasts in the direction of the neighbouring Kaluga region. Emergency services were dispatched to sites where drones were reportedly brought down, Sobyanin said.

The claimed intercept figures could not be independently verified. The attack follows a similar strike on 23 October during which all four major Moscow-area airports — Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky — temporarily suspended operations, disrupting hundreds of flights.