Restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures were imposed at at least 12 Russian airports overnight on October 17, including all four Moscow airports — Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky.
Restrictions were introduced at Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky at 11:26 p.m. on October 16 and at Sheremetyevo at 1:58 a.m. They were lifted at all four Moscow airports on the morning of October 17.
Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, said the temporary restrictions had been imposed to ensure flight safety.
Meduza, citing its analysis of airport departure and arrival boards, reported that more than 350 flights had been delayed or canceled. Novaya Gazeta Europe also cited the figure.
The Insider separately calculated that the combined duration of restrictions at the four Moscow airports over two nights reached 51 hours and 50 minutes. The figure represents the total time accumulated across the individual airports rather than a continuous shutdown of Moscow's entire aviation system for more than two days.
Both the number of affected flights and the combined duration of the restrictions are media calculations rather than official Rosaviatsiya statistics.