Russian air defense reported the destruction of 59 UAVs targeting the capital
An evening drone attack on November 12 led to the temporary closure of all four Moscow airports. Russian air defense forces claimed a total of 59 drones were shot down approaching the city. This was reported by MSK1.RU citing Sergey Sobyanin, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
Operations at Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky airports were restricted due to the massive drone raid. Restrictions were introduced sequentially, starting with Vnukovo and later expanding to the capital’s other air terminals.
According to online flight boards, delays were observed at Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo, primarily affecting incoming flights. In other airports, the situation was less critical, with most takeoffs and landings proceeding according to schedule.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin gradually increased the reported number of intercepted targets throughout the evening. Initial reports mentioned 46 destroyed units, which later rose to 51, with final reports confirming a total of 59 downed UAVs.
This is not the first instance of flight restrictions in the Moscow region. Earlier, on the night of November 12, attempts were made to approach the capital, but their scale was significantly smaller, with only two drones reported destroyed.
The largest such attack occurred on November 3, 2026. Russian authorities claimed hundreds of drones were used, causing prolonged delays and the cancellation of over a hundred flights at Moscow airports.
Illustrative photo: ArmyInform / CC BY 4.0
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