Key facts
- Moscow's Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovksy airports suspended operations on Oct. 16-17 due to security risks.
- Flight-tracking data indicates disruptions and delays at Sheremetyevo Airport.
- Ukraine had paused refinery strikes for three days to accommodate demands from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Flights over Moscow were restricted for the sixth consecutive night on Oct. 16-17, with three of the city's four major airports suspending operations due to security risks. The closures coincide with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's announcement on Oct. 15 that Ukraine would resume attacks on Russian oil refineries after a three-day pause. Rosaviatsiya, Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, cited flight safety as the reason for the restrictions. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed that Russian air defense units intercepted nearly 500 Ukrainian drones between Oct. 13-15 and nearly 100 the following night. Zelensky stated that the pause in refinery strikes was over, despite claims by US President Donald Trump that such attacks were driving up global oil prices.