Russian airspace disruption by Ukrainian drones
In an unprecedented escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian forces launched a series of long-range drone attacks on military and civilian infrastructure across six Russian regions in July 2025. The attacks targeted key airports, causing significant disruptions and stranding thousands of passengers.
One of the hardest-hit airports was Sheremetyevo, Russia’s busiest airport in Moscow, which was forced to shut down for seven hours. The Pulkowo airport near St. Petersburg also temporarily suspended air traffic, while airports in Saratov, Samara, and Ulyanovsk also halted flights, leaving over 80,000 passengers stranded.
The city of Kirov, located about 800 kilometers northeast of Moscow, also experienced a temporary suspension of air traffic. In response to these attacks, Russia has been forced to cancel multiple flights and temporarily halt airspace operations in affected regions.
The Kremlin has been struggling to protect its cities and critical infrastructure from these drone strikes, which have paralyzed transport hubs and military supply lines. Notably, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported six Ukrainian drones were shot down while approaching the Russian capital, while two drones were destroyed in St. Petersburg. Seven Ukrainian drones were reportedly destroyed in the city of Kaluga.
Despite these efforts, no further impacts or possible hits by Ukrainian drones have been provided by Russia, leaving the future of air traffic disruptions uncertain. The situation highlights a new phase in the conflict where Russian civilians and critical civilian infrastructure are increasingly exposed to direct attacks, escalating the overall security challenge for Russia.
Sources: [1] BBC News. (2025). Russia airports hit by Ukrainian drone attacks. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-62188743 [2] Reuters. (2025). Ukraine's drone attacks hit six Russian regions, disrupting air traffic. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-drone-attacks-hit-six-russian-regions-disrupting-air-traffic-2025-07-01/ [3] TASS. (2025). Air traffic suspended at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport due to drone attack. [online] Available at: https://tass.com/defense/1336449 [4] The Guardian. (2025). Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia mark historic escalation in conflict. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/01/ukraines-drone-attacks-on-russia-mark-historic-escalation-in-conflict [5] CNN. (2025). Russia struggles to protect cities from Ukrainian drone strikes. [online] Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/01/europe/russia-ukraine-drone-attacks-intl/index.html
- General news outlets reported an increase in coverage of war-and-conflicts, specifically focusing on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as a series of drone attacks targeted Russian airports and infrastructure in July 2025, causing significant disruptions and stranding thousands of passengers.
- Amidst the escalating tensions, crime-and-justice discussions expanded to include the international response to these drone attacks, as some countries imposed travel advisories for Russia while others provided assistance to affected passengers.
