Drone assault sparks travel chaos in Moscow just after Putin's Africa summit
Photo: Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow (Getty Images)
Massive drone attacks have paralyzed operations at Moscow's airports, where more than 200 flights were canceled. The disruption came immediately after Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's Russia-Africa summit, according to Agentstvo. Novosti.
At least 223 flights were canceled and another 233 delayed at Moscow airports due to a massive drone attack, marking one of the biggest disruptions since early October. Restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures were imposed at 10:52 p.m., and the airports remained closed for nearly nine consecutive hours.
It was not until 8:09 a.m. that Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) announced the lifting of restrictions at Zhukovsky and Sheremetyevo airports, while Vnukovo and Domodedovo continued operating under special clearance.
The largest number of restrictions was recorded at Sheremetyevo, where 170 flights were canceled. Vnukovo canceled 48 departures, Domodedovo canceled four flights, and Zhukovsky canceled just one.
Meanwhile, Vnukovo saw the most delays, with 111 flights affected. The last time a significant number of cancellations was recorded at Moscow's airport hub was on October 17, when 221 flights were canceled.
Flight diversions and the scale of the attack
Due to the airspace closures, some aircraft bound for Moscow were diverted to alternate airports.
In particular, St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport received 27 flights, resulting in long lines. After lengthy waits, passengers were taken off the aircraft, and alternative transportation to Moscow began to be arranged.
According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, 862 drones were launched toward the Moscow region between Thursday evening and Friday morning. Most were allegedly destroyed at a distance, while another 170 were intercepted as they approached the capital.
This is the second-highest figure reported during the war, after the attack on September 19-20, when more than 1,600 drones were reported.
It was also reported that 613 drones had been launched toward the capital on Thursday evening and overnight. Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted and destroyed 1,043 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones overnight.
End of international summit
The massive drone attack took place immediately after the conclusion of the Russia-Africa summit, held on October 28-29 and attended by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
According to the Kremlin, delegations from 48 of Africa's 54 countries took part in the event, with 22 represented by their heads of state. Moscow's airports were shut down almost immediately after the summit ended.
As a reminder, overnight on October 30, drones attacked the city of Novokuybyshevsk in Russia's Samara region.
The strike sparked a fire at a local oil refinery that produces jet fuel for Russian military aircraft.
