Moscow airports temporarily closed after Ukraine drone attacks

Moscow's main airports faced major disruptions after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack over the weekend, causing temporary closures and the cancellation of at least 140 flights. According to Russian officials, more than 230 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over Russia since Saturday morning, with 27 of those being shot down over the capital city. The four major airports serving Moscow had to redirect over 130 flights, but have since resumed normal operations. The Kaluga region, located southwest of Moscow, was also affected, with its international airport temporarily closed after Russian forces intercepted 45 drones. Drones were also shot down in other regions near the Ukrainian border, such as Rostov and Bryansk, and even over the Black Sea. Fortunately, there were no reported fatalities from these drone attacks.

This is not the first time Ukrainian drone strikes have caused travel chaos in Russia. In May, airports across the country were disrupted after Kyiv launched more than 500 drones in a single day, according to the Russian defense ministry. The repeated attacks have made air travel in and out of Moscow unpredictable, with Russia's Association of Tour Operators reporting that Moscow airports were closed ten times in just 24 hours due to the latest strikes.

While Russia was dealing with drone attacks, Ukraine faced deadly air strikes from Russian forces. Regional officials in Ukraine reported that at least three people were killed overnight, including two in Donetsk and a 78-year-old woman in Sumy, where residential buildings caught fire. Ukraine's air force claimed to have shot down 18 out of 57 Russian drones overnight, with another seven drones lost due to radar jamming. Other front-line areas, such as Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia, were also targeted, resulting in damaged or destroyed homes.

The ongoing conflict has led to renewed discussions about peace. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that President Vladimir Putin is ready to work towards a peace settlement with Ukraine, but emphasized that Russia's main goal is to achieve its objectives. He described the peace process as long and difficult, requiring significant effort. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed his willingness to meet with Putin face-to-face to discuss peace, saying that such a meeting is necessary to truly end the conflict.

International involvement continues, with US President Donald Trump recently announcing support for Ukraine and threatening Russia with severe tariffs if a peace deal is not reached within 50 days. Trump also expressed disappointment with Putin but said he was not giving up on efforts to help end the war. Kremlin spokesperson Peskov responded by saying that Russia is used to Trump's tough talk but welcomes any efforts to facilitate a peaceful settlement. As the fighting continues, both Russian and Ukrainian civilians are left hoping for an end to the violence and a return to normal life.