Ukraine is closing Russia’s skies without hitting single airliner: Russia shut its airports 993 times in August, worst month for civil aviation since war began

In August, Russia closed its airports 993 times due to Ukrainian drone activity, marking the worst month for Russian civil aviation since the war began in 2022. This issue affected 32 airports, including those serving Moscow and St. Petersburg, according to Euronews, which reported the information from aviation security firm Osprey.

Ukraine has been preventing Russian flights without directly targeting any airliners. The month of August alone saw more than six times the average number of Russian airport closures in 2025, as noted by investigative outlet The Insider.

The impact on the economy is significant, with passenger traffic between Moscow and St. Petersburg declining by 20 to 23 percent, while rail traffic has increased by around a fifth as travelers avoid flying. The "Carpet" protocol, Russia's response to Ukrainian attacks, grounds or redirects all civil aircraft in the vicinity when a drone is detected near an airport.

In the first three days of September, FlightRadar24 recorded an average of 86 flight cancellations per day, with some nights near Moscow canceling between 77 and over 100 flights.

These closures contribute to economic strain, including rising insurance premiums, foreign airlines pulling out, and reduced domestic mobility, as explained by Mykhailo Samus of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies. He emphasized that "airport closures are the new reality for Russian aviation." In response to these disruptions, foreign airlines such as Turkey's Pegasus and the UAE's Flydubai have diverted flights away from Moscow in early September.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warned airlines and insurers that Russian skies are no longer safe, stating that the days of safety in Russian airspace are over.