June 22, 2026 A view of Moscow. Artur Novosiltsev / Moskva News Agency Moscow airports temporarily suspended flights on Monday morning after local authorities reported that dozens of Ukrainian drones were targeting the capital, just days after the city faced its largest air raid since the start of the war. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin began reporting that drones were heading toward the capital around 3 a.m. local time. By 10 a.m., he said that air defenses had intercepted a total of 80 Ukrainian drones around the city. Sobyanin said emergency services were responding to various drone crash sites but did not report any casualties or immediate damage. Civil aviation authorities said operations at Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports were suspended during the multi-hour attack for safety reasons. The flight restrictions were lifted later in the morning. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted 301 Ukrainian drones across the country and in annexed Crimea between Sunday night and Monday morning. The latest attacks come days after Ukraine targeted a major Moscow oil refinery that supplies a significant share of the fuel for the capital and its surrounding region. Also on Monday, Ukrainian authorities reported that a Russian drone strike set fire to a cargo vessel en route to Ukraine, killing one crew member. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba stated that eight sailors, including citizens of Turkey and India, were forced to flee the attack on a life raft, adding that the vessel "sustained significant damage and lost seaworthiness." AFP contributed reporting. Read more about: Drones , Ukraine war , Moscow 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 Ukrainian Drone Slams Into Skyscraper Near Central Moscow The attack on the Russian capital comes just days ahead of the annual Victory Day military parade on Red Square. 1 Min read News Analysis Drone Attacks on Moscow Pressure Russia Far From the Frontlines As Kyiv’s counteroffensive has so far failed to make a major breakthrough, it is looking for other tactics to change the course of the war, analysts... 4 Min read Russia Says Thwarted Ukrainian Drone Attack Near Moscow One of the drones was "suppressed by means of electronic warfare" and crashed in the village of Pokrovskoye, located southwest of Moscow. 1 Min read Feature 'I Feel Calm': Few in Moscow Bat an Eye as Drones Crash Into Capital’s Skyscrapers Residents and workers in the city's financial district who spoke to The Moscow Times appeared largely unfazed by the back-to-back drone attacks. 4 Min read
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West is entering new phase of war against Russia — senior legislator
• What happened: Senior Russian legislator Alexey Pushkov stated that Western countries are entering a new phase of conflict with Russia, characterized by incre...