--- title: "Ukraine's Drone Strikes Disrupt Airport Operations in Moscow" url: https://newscentral.site/ukraine-s-drone-strikes-disrupt-airport-operations-in-moscow/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "World" published: 2026-10-23T14:23:00.000Z updated: 2026-10-24T00:59:52.146Z id: 22bcbb6a-aeae-423a-904b-58f7672e46ad source: "DW English https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-tries-to-shut-moscow-s-airports-with-drone-strikes-on-russia/a-79737469?maca=en-rss-en-world-4025-rdf" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/ukraine-s-drone-strikes-disrupt-airport-operations-in-moscow/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Ukraine's Drone Strikes Disrupt Airport Operations in Moscow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to cut off the airspace around Moscow and other major Russian destinations, warning airlines and insurers that continued use of these airports would be considered hazardous. Ukraine's drone strikes on Russia have severely disrupted airport operations in Moscow, forcing closures almost daily in October. The affected airports include Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, Zhukovsky, and Vnukovo, which have reportedly been shut down for up to nine hours at a time. This has caused significant disruptions to air travel within Russia. In early September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to cut off the airspace around Moscow and other major Russian destinations. He warned airlines, insurers, and others that continued use of these airports would be considered hazardous. Ukraine's own airspace has been closed since February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion. The move was likely intended to create a similar situation for Russia by targeting Moscow's airport operations. Russia's aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, has implemented an emergency safety protocol in response to the drone strikes. This "carpet protocol allows for immediate airspace closures if an aircraft enters restricted airspace or unidentified objects are detected. The concept of a carpet protocol is central to Ukraine's plan to disrupt Russian air traffic. This system allows for swift airspace closures if an unidentified object enters restricted airspace or if drones are detected. The protocol essentially treats every drone as a potential military threat. Experts suggest that Ukraine's military capabilities far surpass those of other groups known to have disrupted airspaces, such as the Houthis in Yemen. Their ability to launch effective attacks on Russian airspace is likely due to their advanced technology and training. This could be a significant factor in Ukraine's efforts to shut down Moscow-area airports. Military analysts believe that Ukraine has the resources and capabilities needed to severely disrupt Russian air traffic. With its arms industry capable of producing hundreds of combat-ready drones daily, Ukraine appears well-equipped to trigger the carpet protocol. This would effectively close off airspace around major cities like Moscow. The potential for Ukraine's drone strikes to significantly impact Russian airports is considerable. Well-informed sources have suggested that Ukraine's efforts are only just beginning and that further disruptions can be expected in the near future. Russian air-defense systems have been struggling to keep up with Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow's airspace. According to sources, these systems are not entirely effective in preventing drones from penetrating sensitive areas. The ineffectiveness of Russia's defenses is evident in their inability to shoot down the drones so far. The potential for deadly incidents has increased due to a possible change in protocol by Russia. If they lower the threshold for declaring the carpet protocol", it could lead to more aggressive targeting of suspected drone threats, including civilian aircraft. This raises concerns that innocent lives may be lost as a result of mistaken identity. Investigations into past air-defense incidents have highlighted the risks associated with Russia's current protocols. A 2024 Christmas day crash involving an Azerbaijan Airlines flight is a stark example of what can go wrong when air-defense systems target drones without proper verification. The incident resulted in the loss of 38 lives. In contrast, low-flying drone operations are typically carried out using visual identification and machine gun fire, minimizing the risk to aircraft unless they happen to be flying extremely close by. However, this method is not always feasible or effective against more advanced drone threats. The use of drones as a means of disrupting air traffic has significant implications for civil aviation, particularly when anti-aircraft missiles are deployed in defense. According to experts, even minor defects in these missiles can cause them to veer off course and potentially collide with nearby aircraft. A drone's size is not the determining factor in its ability to cause damage; even a basic model can pose a serious threat if it collides with an airplane. In fact, Matvejev notes that drones sent from Ukraine to Moscow would likely be quite large, weighing dozens of kilograms. The use of drones as a means of attack has become increasingly common on both sides of the conflict. In addition to the recent incident at Sochi airport, Ukrainian armed forces have targeted airports in other Russian cities, including Pskov, where both military and civilian aircraft were parked. In response to these attacks, Russia has also targeted Ukraine's airports, with Zelenskyy reporting strikes on Kyiv's airport and the Boryspil airport near the capital. The impact of these actions on international air travel is still being assessed, but one factor that will play a significant role in determining whether airlines suspend flights to Russia is the insurance cost. The financial implications of drone strikes on Russian airports are becoming increasingly apparent, with potential issues emerging around insurance costs for airlines operating in Russia. Insurers may significantly raise their rates for aircraft flying to Russia if they deem the security risk as very high. This development comes amidst a declining competition within Russia's aviation market, where many airlines have ceased operations, leading to increased demand for tickets from remaining foreign carriers. The decision of these airlines to continue or suspend flights will ultimately depend on the costs associated with operating in a high-risk environment. --- Source: [DW English](https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-tries-to-shut-moscow-s-airports-with-drone-strikes-on-russia/a-79737469?maca=en-rss-en-world-4025-rdf) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/ukraine-s-drone-strikes-disrupt-airport-operations-in-moscow/