Moscow airports halt flights second night after Zelensky's airspace warning

Moscow's Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo airports suspended operations for a second consecutive night following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's warnings about threats to Russian airspace, according to The Moscow Times citing Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency. Temporary restrictions on flight arrivals and departures were imposed on September 2, with Flightradar24 data showing 21 flights canceled and 235 delayed at Sheremetyevo, plus 22 canceled and 94 delayed at Vnukovo. Russian presidential adviser Anton Kobyakov claimed Russian airspace remains safe. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported destroying 10 drones targeting the capital overnight on September 3, while restrictions were also introduced at Zhukovsky, Gelendzhik, Sochi, Penza, and Saratov airports. Zelensky warned on September 1 that Ukraine would block Russian airspace in response to intensified Russian strikes.