Emerging
Jun 18, 20261
69%
Moscow Airport Evacuates Passengers as Drone Attacks Disrupt Region
Sheremetyevo Airport evacuated passengers to safe areas after drone attacks hit Moscow and nearby districts. Russian officials said more than 30 drones were intercepted, with several drones reaching targets in the Moscow region and one woman injured.
Quick Facts
Who
Sheremetyevo Airport
What
evacuated passengers from the airport, including from aircraft
When
18 June
Where
Sheremetyevo Airport
- evacuated passengers from the airport, including from aircraft
- intercepted multiple drones approaching Moscow
- reported a drone falling on a shopping center
- reported drones reaching the Moscow oil refinery
- reported drone impacts at several sites in the Moscow region
Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport evacuated passengers, including people on board aircraft, to safe locations after a wave of drone attacks on the capital and surrounding region. The airport said its staff quickly moved passengers into secure shelters as the situation developed.
According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Russian air defenses intercepted more than 30 drones heading toward the city on 18 June. He said one drone fell on the Sadovod shopping center, but no one was hurt in that incident.
Sobyanin also said some drones reached the Moscow oil refinery, though he did not disclose the extent of any damage. Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyov said drones struck or fell on several sites, including an apartment building, a private house, a fitness center, an industrial area and a shopping center.
Vorobyov said one woman was injured in the Moscow region and declined hospitalization. The attacks also led to transport disruptions, including a road closure on the approach from Yaroslavl toward Moscow.
Topics
Why This Matters
The drone attack demonstrates ongoing operational threats to Moscow's critical infrastructure and civilian transportation networks. Airport evacuations signal elevated risk to travelers and supply chains, while damage to oil refinery facilities could impact energy supplies across the region. The incident highlights the broader military pressures affecting Russia's capital and surrounding areas.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireOfficials reported a drone falling on the Sadovod shopping center and others reaching the Moscow oil refinery and sites in the Moscow region.
Jun 18, 2026
WireSheremetyevo Airport said passengers were evacuated to safe shelters during the drone attacks.