Israel's EL AL Suspends Moscow Flights as Drone Attacks Disrupt Air Traffic

June 25, 2026 Wikimedia Commons / Magic Aviation Israel's flagship airline EL AL said Thursday it was temporarily suspending flights between Tel Aviv and Moscow, citing developments in Russian airspace as repeated Ukrainian drone attacks increasingly disrupt air traffic in and around the Russian capital. The airline notified passengers that Flight LY611 from Tel Aviv to Moscow, scheduled for June 25, had been canceled as a result of the suspension, the Israel Info and Kol Israel news outlets reported. "In light of developments in the airspace over Russia, EL AL is suspending flights on the Tel Aviv-Moscow route," the airline said in a notice to passengers published by Kol Israel. An airline spokesperson confirmed the suspension to The Times of Israel. A scheduled S7 Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Moscow, due to depart at the same time as EL AL's Flight LY611 on Thursday morning, was also canceled, according to the Israel Airports Authority's online departures board. The Moscow Times has contacted EL AL for comment. Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks on Moscow in recent weeks, with Russian authorities reporting four large-scale attacks targeting the capital since mid-June. On June 16, Russian air defenses shot down 60 drones approaching Moscow, officials said. They reported intercepting another 76 drones on June 19 and 84 on June 22. The largest attack came on June 18, when Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian forces destroyed 194 drones targeting the capital. The assault forced Moscow's airports to delay or cancel 527 flights. EL AL, Israel's largest airline, carries more than 6.5 million passengers annually. Political analyst Abbas Gallyamov said the airline's decision highlighted the extent to which the war in Ukraine has begun to affect daily life inside Russia. "Read this carefully: Israelis are afraid to fly to Russia — not the other way around," Gallyamov, a former speechwriter to President Vladimir Putin who now lives in exile, wrote on social media. "Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to understand how absurd the situation at home has become. "Security was the core of his message," Gallyamov wrote of Putin. "Now Russians find themselves in greater danger than they were in the 1990s." Read this article in Russian at The Moscow Times' Russian service. Read more about: Israel , Airlines , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Explained: War Hits Home by Thwarting Russians’ Air Travel More than 200 flights were delayed or canceled in Moscow on Tuesday following a major drone attack. It's just the latest in a string of mass disruptions... 3 Min read Russia Move Against Jewish Group Response to Israel War Stance – Analysts Russia's Justice Ministry has requested the "dissolution" of the agency that processes the immigration of Jews to Israel. Moscow Orders Jewish Agency to Halt Russia Operations – Reports If confirmed, the measure that could impact thousands of Russian Jews who want to repatriate to Israel. Moscow Chief Rabbi Leaves Russia, Alleging State Pressure Over War Rabbi Goldschmidt said in early May he did not know when he would return to Russia.