Ruth Haines
In late October 2023, a mob stormed a Russian airport in Dagestan in search of Jews. Video clips showed hundreds of people storming the airport terminal, with some waving Palestinian flags and shouting antisemitic slogans. Twenty people were injured in the incident, including police officers. This incident occurred amidst Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has also seen Moscow airports shut down temporarily due to Ukrainian drone attacks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of passengers stranded | 60,000 |
| Number of flights affected | 350 |
| Number of Ukrainian drones destroyed | 524 |
| Number of casualties | 0 |
| Number of people killed in Kyiv | 2 |
| Number of Moscow airports closed | 4 |
| Number of drones intercepted by Russian forces | 100+ |
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What You'll Learn
Drone attacks disrupt travel for 60,000 passengers
Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow have caused severe disruptions to air travel for 60,000 passengers in Russia. The attacks, which took place on the night of May 6–7, forced the closure of Russian airports, including Sheremetyevo Airport, and the diversion of flights from three of Moscow's major airports. This has resulted in significant travel disruptions, with at least 350 flights affected across Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, and several other cities.
The drone attacks targeted defence industry facilities in several Russian oblasts, causing major fires. In response to the drone threat, Russian authorities claimed to have downed seven drones approaching Moscow. The closures and delays at Russian airports are expected to trigger a domino effect of further delays. Citizens have been advised to check their flight statuses.
Vnukovo Airport saw around 50 cancellations and over 45 delays of more than an hour. Over 40 flights were diverted to alternative airports. Sheremetyevo Airport experienced even more significant disruptions, with approximately 100 cancellations and 50 delays. Domodedovo Airport also felt the impact, with 20 departures cancelled and over 70 arrivals delayed.
The drone strikes come just days before Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9, a significant event for the country and a key propaganda tool for President Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for increased pressure on Russia, and Ukraine has warned against the participation of foreign troops in the parade.
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Ukraine's largest drone strike on Moscow
Ukraine launched its largest-ever drone strike on Moscow on 10 November 2024. The attack, which was the largest on the Russian capital since the start of the war in 2022, saw 34 Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow. The strike disrupted flights from three major airports—Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky—and caused injuries to at least five people in the Moscow region.
The drone strike came in response to Russia's massive attack on Ukraine the night before, where 145 drones were launched. This escalation in drone warfare has renewed discussions about peace negotiations, with US President Donald Trump claiming he could broker a resolution within 24 hours.
On 6-7 May 2025, Ukrainian drones attacked defence industry facilities in several Russian oblasts, causing major fires. This attack disrupted travel plans for at least 60,000 passengers and affected at least 350 flights. Three major airports in Moscow—Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, and Domodedovo—were forced to cancel or delay numerous flights.
On 7 May 2025, Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow as foreign leaders arrived for the Red Square parade. This attack came as Ukrainian and US delegations met in Saudi Arabia to discuss possible peace terms with Russia. The Moscow Mayor reported minor damage to a building in the city, while authorities claimed that 330 UAVs were downed across Russia in the attack, making it the largest drone strike on Moscow in the entire full-scale war.
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Russia captures Antonov Airport
On 24 February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" to "demilitarise and denazify" Ukraine. Between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. local time, four Kalibr missiles targeted Antonov Airport and a nearby National Guard base, but they did not cause significant damage to Ukrainian defences. A formation of 20 to 34 Russian helicopters was then launched to secure the airport to create an airbridge that would allow troops to quickly move into Kyiv.
Antonov Airport, also known as Hostomel Airport, is a major international cargo airport located in the town of Hostomel, just 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) outside Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. The airport is strategically important due to its ability to receive heavy transport aircraft and its proximity to Kyiv and the E373 highway. Capturing the airport would enable Russian forces to quickly move into Kyiv and potentially overthrow the Ukrainian government.
In the lead-up to the Russian invasion, the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) obtained information about Russia's attack plans, including their intention to capture Antonov Airport. This warning helped the Ukrainian military prepare for an attack on the airport, although they did not expect a large-scale airborne assault. As a result, the airport was only defended by a small garrison of 200-300 National Guard troops, mostly conscripts, with limited equipment.
Despite the Ukrainian defences, Russian forces captured Antonov Airport. The airport was too damaged to be used as a functional airstrip, and the Antonov An-225 Mriya, the world's largest plane, was destroyed in its hangar during the battle. However, Ukrainian forces regained control of the airport on 2 April following the Russian withdrawal from Kyiv Oblast.
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Mob storms Dagestan airport in search of Jews
A mob of anti-Israeli protesters stormed Makhachkala International Airport in the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, Russia, on the night of 29 October 2023. The mob was fuelled by anger over the Israel-Hamas conflict and sought to attack Jews and Israelis rumoured to be on a flight arriving from Tel Aviv.
Video footage on social media showed an angry crowd running through the airport, with some people waving Palestinian flags and shouting antisemitic slogans. Some demonstrators stopped cars outside the airport, demanding to see documents, while others ran onto the runway and surrounded aircraft. Twenty people were injured, including several police officers, and two people were in critical condition.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office and Foreign Ministry stated that they were monitoring the situation and confirmed that no Israeli or Jewish people were on the Tel Aviv-Makhachkala flight. Israel's foreign ministry added that the Israeli ambassador in Moscow was working with Russian authorities to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens and Jews in the region.
The Dagestan branch of Russia's Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on charges of "organizing mass unrest," and sixty alleged mob participants were arrested. The head of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, denounced the mob invasion of the airport, calling it a "gross violation of the law." Local religious authorities suggested that they may need to evacuate an estimated 800 Jewish families from across Dagestan.
The US and Israel stood in solidarity with the Jewish community, condemning the rise in antisemitism and urging Russia to protect its Jewish citizens.
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Air India operates a relief flight from Mumbai
On July 19, 2024, Air India operated a relief flight from Mumbai to Krasnoyarsk International Airport (KJA) in Russia. The flight, AI1179, departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai and was expected to arrive at KJA at 20:00 local time on the same day. This relief flight was organised to fly passengers stranded at the Russian airport.
An Air India flight, AI183, travelling from Delhi to San Francisco on July 18, 2024, made a precautionary landing at Krasnoyarsk International Airport due to a potential issue detected in the cargo hold area. This diversion resulted in passengers being stranded at the airport in Russia. Air India's local support was activated to assist these passengers, who were required to remain in the terminal due to a lack of Russian visas. Food and beverage services, initially closed for the evening, were made available, and meals were provided to all passengers.
In addition to addressing the immediate needs of the stranded passengers, Air India took proactive steps to ensure the comfort and safety of those affected. The airline set up a dedicated hotline for the family, relatives, and friends of AI183 guests, providing them with necessary information and support. An Air India team, including crew and security personnel, was also onboard the relief flight to offer any further assistance required by the passengers and staff at KJA.
This incident marked the second time in over a year that an Air India flight on the Delhi to San Francisco route had to make an unscheduled landing in Russia. The previous occurrence saw an Air India aircraft diverting to Russia due to a technical issue.
In recent times, Air India has been actively involved in operating relief flights to assist stranded passengers. In March 2020, the airline conducted relief operations from Mumbai and Delhi to Frankfurt, repatriating stranded Europeans from various cities in India. These flights occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic when the Indian government had suspended all domestic and international passenger flights.
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Frequently asked questions
The Antonov Airport, also known as Hostomel Airport, is a major international cargo airport located in Hostomel, Ukraine, just outside Kyiv. In February 2022, Russian forces attacked the airport with air and ground assaults, capturing it to create an airbridge to quickly move into Kyiv. The airport was too damaged to be used as a functional airstrip.
The airport was strategically important due to its ability to receive heavy transport aircraft and its proximity to Kyiv, just 10 kilometers away. Capturing the airport would allow Russian forces to quickly move into Kyiv and potentially overthrow the Ukrainian government.
Despite capturing the airport, the unexpected Ukrainian resistance delayed Russia's plans to take Kyiv. Additionally, the airport was too damaged to be functional, and on April 2, Ukraine regained control of the airport following the Russian withdrawal from the Kyiv Oblast.
In early May 2025, Ukrainian drone attacks targeted Moscow and other Russian cities, causing the temporary closure of airports and disrupting travel plans for at least 60,000 passengers and 350 flights. This incident occurred ahead of planned celebrations in Moscow to commemorate the end of World War II.
