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Türkiye's airlines adjusted dozens of flights to Russia's Vnukovo Airport in Moscow overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, as Russian authorities reported widespread Ukrainian drone attacks across the country.
The disruption also came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines operating in Russian airspace, insurers and others using major Russian airports on Tuesday that the security situation was becoming increasingly dangerous.
Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines canceled 12 flights to and from Moscow's Vnukovo Airport during the night of Sept. 1-2, the airport data showed. A Pegasus flight from Antalya to Moscow was also diverted to Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport due to security concerns in Russian airspace.
In a statement on Wednesday, Pegasus confirmed that some Russia-bound flights scheduled for the night had been canceled, citing technical and operational reasons.
The carrier said flights to Russia scheduled for Sept. 2 were continuing as planned and that additional flights were being arranged for passengers affected by the cancellations.
Turkish Airlines, Türkiye's flag carrier, mostly kept its Moscow flights running overnight, although two departures from Istanbul and two arrivals in Istanbul were canceled, according to airport data. AJet, Turkish Airlines' low-cost subsidiary, also kept its Istanbul-Moscow flights intact overnight.
Vnukovo Airport, a major hub for flights between Moscow and Türkiye, handles numerous daily services to Turkish destinations, with 19 scheduled departures to Antalya alone on Sept. 1, according to flight schedule data.
The Ukrainian president asserted Russia's skies were facing a growing drone threat and urged those involved in civilian aviation to take the risks into account.
"Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe," he said, adding that "the safe days in Russia’s skies are over."
Zelenskyy urged airlines flying to Moscow, St. Petersburg and other major Russian destinations to consider the risks, adding that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and other institutions would provide international organizations with information about the dangers in Russian airspace.
Russia's Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted and destroyed 130 Ukrainian drones between 8 p.m. Moscow time on Sept. 1 and 8 a.m. on Sept. 2, with drones reported over several regions, the Moscow region, Crimea, Krasnodar and the Black Sea.
Russian authorities imposed temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures at Moscow's Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports overnight.
Addressing Zelenskyy's remarks, Russia's Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin said authorities were working closely to respond to threats to civil aviation, adding that aviation officials were in constant contact with security and defense agencies and responding to threats in a timely manner.
Russian media reported that about 77 flights were delayed or canceled across three Moscow airports, including 17 at Vnukovo and 20 at Domodedovo.
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