Russia Imposes Over 3,500 Airport Flight Restrictions in 2026 Amid Ukrainian Drone Attacks
Why It MattersRepeated sudden airport closures are raising delays, rerouting costs and crew-scheduling strain for Russian carriers already cut off from international routes and Western aircraft, parts and maintenance services.
Russian airports imposed flight restrictions thousands of times between January and October 2026 amid Ukrainian drone attacks. Data from Doletit, which tracks figures from the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, show about 3,594 restrictions across Russia in that period (the article's headline summary cites 3,596). The measures affected facilities near the Ukrainian border as well as Moscow's major hubs, including Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports.
The number of restrictions rose to 545 in October, nearly ninefold from 60 in October of the previous year. Russia's Transport Ministry reported a 20.3% increase in flights delayed by more than two hours from January to August. In October, more than 51,900 flights were delayed by at least 15 minutes and over 7,000 were canceled across 118 airports nationwide.
Airlines have frequently rerouted aircraft to alternative hubs, adding costs for emergency lodging and ground transport for passengers. Aeroflot accommodated more than 2,600 passengers in hotels and provided 11,000 meal vouchers after restrictions at Sheremetyevo on Oct. 23. After further restrictions on Oct. 29 and 30, the carrier housed 1,600 passengers in hotels, issued 20,000 meal vouchers and transported more than 1,300 people to their destinations. Restoring normal schedules after sudden closures also complicated compliance with aviation safety rules on crew work and rest periods.
Russian carriers were already under strain, having been barred from international routes since the US and the EU closed their airspace to Russian aircraft in early 2022. Western sanctions also prohibit the sale of aircraft, spare parts and maintenance services to Russia.
