Southern Russia Flights to Resume After 3 PM on May 8

Passenger flights to southern Russia are set to resume after 3:00 PM Moscow time on May 8, according to the country’s Transport Ministry. The announcement came via the ministry’s Telegram channel, offering a clear timeline after a morning of disruptions.

A total of 59 flights from Moscow and 158 from other regions are scheduled to head to southern airports by the end of the day. For travelers seeking alternatives, the ministry is coordinating with Russian Railways to expand train service. Additional cars will be added to existing trains where possible, and extra routes are being arranged from Adler, Novorossiysk, Mineralnye Vody, Astrakhan, and Volgograd (via Saratov), starting May 10. Bus transport options are also under review.

The temporary shutdown began earlier on May 8, when 13 southern airports—including those in Astrakhan, Vladikavkaz, Volgograd, Gelendzhik, Grozny, Krasnodar, Makhachkala, Magas, Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Sochi, Stavropol, and Elista—suspended operations. The cause: Ukrainian drone attacks on a branch of the Air Navigation of Southern Russia facility in Rostov-on-Don.

Authorities are urging passengers to check with airlines for updated schedules and to consider rail options for May 9 and 10, when demand is expected to spike.