Flights canceled and delayed at Moscow airports after Zelensky warns Russian airspace is becoming unsafe

Flights were canceled or delayed at Moscow’s Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo airports for a second consecutive night after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian airspace was becoming increasingly unsafe for civilian aviation. Rosaviatsia confirmed that overnight arrival and departure restrictions were implemented to ensure flight safety, citing Ukraine’s expanding long-range drone operations. Data referenced by The Moscow Times and Reuters based on Flightradar24 showed 21 cancellations and 235 delays at Sheremetyevo, and 22 cancellations with 94 delays at Vnukovo. The move followed similar disruptions tied to drone threats. Zelensky told airlines, insurers, and governments on September 1 that drones over Russian territory were creating growing risks. Ukraine says it has notified ICAO that it considers Russian airspace unsafe; Russia rejected the assessment, with Rosaviatsia saying Ukrainian claims have no legal force and infrastructure continues to operate normally.