Ukraine Drone Attack on Moscow Forces Closure of Key Airports, Russia Says

A Ukrainian drone attack targeting Moscow led to the temporary closure of two major airports serving the Russian capital, Russian authorities announced early Sunday, June 8, 2025.

Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, stated on Telegram that flights were suspended at Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports to ensure air safety following the attack. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed that Russian air defense units intercepted and destroyed nine Ukrainian drones heading towards Moscow by 4:00 AM GMT.

Emergency services were deployed to locations where debris from the drones fell overnight, although no immediate damage was reported, Sobyanin said. Additionally, a Ukrainian drone strike caused a brief fire at the Azot chemical plant in the Tula region, injuring two people. Seven more drones were shot down over the Kaluga region. Both Tula and Kaluga regions border Moscow to the south.

Reuters could not independently verify these reports, and Ukraine has not yet commented on the incident.

The drone attacks come amid escalating military strikes from both sides, even as Russia and Ukraine have resumed peace talks for the first time since early 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.