On the evening of October 15, Moscow was subjected to a large-scale drone attack that continued past midnight. According to the publication, by 0:15 on Friday, the total number of downed drones, based on reports from city authorities, reached 47 units. The capital's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, provided step-by-step updates on the events via his Telegram channel, RBC-Ukraine reports.
Series of Updates from Moscow's Mayor
Sobyanin published information about air defense operations in parts. First, he reported the destruction of 10 drones heading toward Moscow and noted that emergency services specialists were working at the debris crash sites. About 20 minutes later, a report followed about another 11 downed devices, and then another 16. At 0:15, the mayor wrote: "Ministry of Defense air defenses shot down 12 UAVs heading toward Moscow. Emergency services specialists are working at the debris crash site."
Four Airports Suspended Operations
Due to the drone raid, all four airports of the Moscow aviation hub temporarily ceased operations, Rosaviatsiya reported. These are Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky. Temporary restrictions on receiving and departing flights have become a standard security measure during an airborne threat and typically lead to delays and rescheduled departures.
Context: Series of Attacks on the Capital
The nighttime attack on October 15 was a continuation of a series of strikes against Moscow and the Moscow region. On the night of October 14, according to available data, hundreds of strike drones were directed at the capital and the surrounding region, and on the night of October 13, the city was attacked by dozens of drones. Thus, over the course of several days, the capital found itself under continuous pressure from airborne attacks.
Impact on Air Traffic and Flight Redirections
Restrictions related to drone attacks have previously affected air traffic operations. Recently, the plane carrying Vladimir Putin back from Turkmenistan was unable to land in Moscow immediately and was diverted to St. Petersburg—reportedly due to airport restrictions imposed in connection with the drone attack. The incident demonstrated how airborne threats affect not only civilian but also official flights.
