Ukraine tries to shut Moscow's airports with drone strikes on Russia

Since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Ukraine has been using drones to force the suspension of flights at Russian airports. Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, Zhukovsky, and Vnukovo airports have been closed almost daily in October, with some closures lasting up to nine hours. In early September, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine's intention to cut off airspace around Moscow and other Russian destinations.

Ukraine has warned airlines, insurers, and users of major Russian airports that Russian airspace will become unsafe. Russia's aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, has issued an emergency safety protocol to shut down airspace in response to military threats or unidentified objects in the sky. Ukraine's military capabilities are believed to far surpass those of the Houthis, who have disrupted Saudi airspace.

Ukraine's armed forces are committed to disrupting Russian air traffic, even if they haven't completely shut it down yet. The necessary resources for Ukraine to shut down Moscow's airports are available, according to experts. Russia's air-defense systems have not effectively prevented Ukrainian drones from entering Moscow's airspace, and there's a risk of Russia mistakenly targeting civilian aircraft.

The carpet protocol could increase this risk. A collision between an airplane and a basic drone could have serious consequences, and even a non-explosive drone can disrupt air traffic. Whether international airlines continue to fly to Russia depends on factors like the military threat, demand, and insurance costs.