Russian airspace encounters disruption due to Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles
In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted air traffic at multiple major Russian airports on July 5, 2025. The affected airports included Russia’s busiest hub, Sheremetyevo, in Moscow, Pulkovo in St. Petersburg, and Kirov, among others.
At Sheremetyevo Airport, the disruption forced a seven-hour shutdown, leading to the cancellation and delay of over 220 flights combined, with severe passenger congestion. Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg imposed temporary restrictions on flights for a few hours during the night of the attacks. Other airports, such as Saratov, Samara, Ulyanovsk, and Strigino in Nizhny Novgorod, also suspended flights due to the drone threat.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, they intercepted and shot down approximately 120 Ukrainian drones overnight between July 5 and July 6 over various Russian regions, including those near the airport areas affected by the strikes. However, the exact number of drones intercepted or destroyed in each location remains unspecified.
The Ukrainian drone attacks represent a significant escalation in Ukraine’s drone campaign targeting Russian civilian and military infrastructure. The incidents underscore Russia’s vulnerabilities in defending its airspace, causing major disruptions in Russian civil aviation.
In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported the destruction of six Ukrainian drones, but the location of their downfall within the city is not specified. In St. Petersburg, two Ukrainian drones were intercepted, but no further impacts or possible hits by Ukrainian drones were provided by Russia. Information regarding the status or impact of the seven destroyed drones in Kaluga is also unavailable.
The state news agency Tass reported the temporary suspension of air traffic at Sheremetyevo. Flights were also temporarily grounded in Kirow, around 800 kilometers northeast of Moscow.
These events highlight the growing tension between Ukraine and Russia and the potential for further disruptions to civil aviation in the region. Passengers are advised to monitor the situation closely and follow the updates from their airlines and airport authorities.
- The significant drone attacks by Ukraine on multiple Russian airports, including Sheremetyevo and Pulkovo, are a part of the ongoing news about war-and-conflicts in the region, with broader political implications that extend beyond general-news to include civilian aviation disruptions.
- The Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian airports and the subsequent responses from the Russian Defense Ministry have caused severe passenger congestion and flight cancellations, as reported by the state news agency Tass, indicating the potential for further political and general-news updates related to these war-and-conflicts.
