Moscow faces second night of drone attacks as four airports restrict flights

The attacks prompted temporary restrictions at Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports in the Moscow area. Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, later lifted the restrictions at Domodedovo and Zhukovsky.

Domodedovo began handling arrivals and departures subject to clearance from “the relevant authorities” because of temporary airspace restrictions. The measures came amid large-scale drone attacks.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed on Aug. 18 that its air defenses had shot down more than 1,600 drones within 24 hours, along with 10 guided bombs and two HIMARS rockets.

The previous record for drones deployed in an attack on Russia was set on Aug. 16. Russian authorities claimed that they had “shot down 1,478 drones” within 24 hours.

A Wildberries warehouse in Moscow Oblast was hit during the overnight attack and caught fire. Moscow Oblast Gov. Andrei Vorobyov confirmed the incident, described the attack as “large-scale” and claimed that 150 drones had been shot down in the region.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, Moscow canceled the large military band parade known as the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival. The four-day event had been scheduled to begin on Aug. 21.

Several Moscow districts lost power after a fire broke out at a combined heat and power plant. Widespread disruptions later affected internet service and websites across Russia, The Moscow Times reported. Most complaints came from Moscow and St. Petersburg.