Russian Air Defenses Down 60+ Drones Over Moscow as Airports Briefly Halt Flights
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 30
Russian Air Defenses Down 60+ Drones Over Moscow as Airports Briefly Halt Flights
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 30
Summary
More than 60 drones were shot down over Moscow in several overnight waves, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, with emergency crews sent to crash sites and no injuries immediately reported.
Flight-safety restrictions briefly halted operations at Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports before Rosaviatsiya lifted them less than two hours later.
Ukraine did not immediately comment, and Sobyanin did not say where the drones came from.
The attack came less than two weeks after one of Ukraine’s largest strikes on Moscow injured at least 17 people, hit an oil refinery and temporarily shut all four of the capital’s airports.
As drone attacks on Moscow become common, can Russia's defenses prevent a catastrophic strike on the capital?
Is Ukraine's drone war on oil refineries successfully crippling Russia's economic and military machine?
How is Ukraine's advanced drone technology penetrating Russia's deep and layered air defenses?
Ukraine’s 660-Drone Barrage in June 2026: Escalation, Russian Fallout, and Global Risks
Overview
In late June 2026, Ukraine launched an unprecedented wave of drone attacks deep into Russian territory, with Russia claiming to intercept 660 drones in just two days. This massive barrage led to emergency responses and airport closures, especially around Moscow, where air defenses destroyed dozens of drones before they reached the city. While officials reported no casualties in Moscow, the attacks disrupted daily life and exposed vulnerabilities in Russia’s defenses. The campaign targeted critical infrastructure, including oil refineries, causing fuel shortages and highlighting the growing impact of the conflict on Russian society and its economy.