Russia’s major airports descended into chaos after a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks triggered widespread flight cancellations and delays starting July 5. According to Rosaviatsia, more than 2,000 flights were affected by 6:00 AM Moscow time on July 7, with 485 flights canceled, 88 diverted, and 1,900 delayed.
The disruption hit Sheremetyevo (Moscow), Pulkovo (St. Petersburg), and Chkalov (Nizhny Novgorod) hardest.
Despite the scale of the disruption, Rosaviatsia praised the country’s aviation infrastructure for demonstrating “resilience against external interference.” Over 43,000 tickets were refunded, 94,000 passengers were provided hotel accommodation, and hundreds of thousands received food and drink vouchers.
Pulkovo: Ground Zero of Disruption
The Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg faced the most severe delays on July 7, with over 100 flights delayed more than two hours, according to Rosaviatsia. However, independent tracking from Yandex Schedules reported 152 delays and 32 cancellations.
Over the past three days, Pulkovo imposed five separate operating restrictions, the latest lasting eight hours overnight from July 6 to 7, according to Fontanka. Airport authorities restricted terminal access to only ticketed passengers, triggering long lines and overcrowding. Adding to the chaos, mobile internet outages across St. Petersburg disrupted cashless payments and flight information systems.
Sheremetyevo: Packed Lounges, Lingering Delays
In Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, Rosaviatsia reported only minor passenger congestion and described the overall situation as “calm.” However, eyewitness footage contradicted that, showing crowded terminals and even overfilled business lounges. As of the morning of July 7, 40 departures were still delayed.
Nizhny Novgorod’s Chkalov Airport: Returning to Normal
Operations at Chkalov Airport were suspended for nearly two days — from 10:40 PM on July 4 to 9:37 AM on July 6. By July 7, the situation had largely stabilized, with just a few delays and cancellations, and no large crowds reported.
Financial Fallout for Airlines
The disruption is expected to come with a hefty price tag. According to Kommersant, just the first day of chaos — July 5 — likely cost airlines between 3.9 and 5.9 billion rubles ($45–67 million) in three major airports alone. Industry experts estimate the nationwide cost per day could reach 20 billion rubles ($230 million), factoring in additional operating costs, refunds, and logistics.
As attacks and threats to infrastructure continue, Russia’s aviation sector faces mounting financial strain and growing pressure to adapt to the evolving nature of aerial threats.
