Russian air defences shoot down four drones headed for Moscow, mayor says


FILE PHOTO: Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia May 5, 2025. Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

(Reuters) -Russian air defences shot down four Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow on Saturday, the city's mayor said, while one of the capital's main airports temporarily halted outgoing flights.

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said emergency services were working at the sites of the downed drones, but gave no information on potential damage.

The Defence Ministry said 94 drones had been destroyed over Russia overnight on Saturday and 45 more between 0800 MSK (0400 GMT) and 1350 MSK.

Outgoing flights at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport were temporarily paused on Saturday before they were later lifted, Russia's Rosaviatsia aviation authority said, citing "restrictions" over the capital's airspace as well as strong winds.

Rosaviatsia said incoming and outgoing flights at airports in several other Russian cities were also temporarily halted, including at St Petersburg's Pulkovo airport, citing safety concerns.

(Reporting by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Jan Harvey)

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