Olga Koval18:27, 25.05.26

According to AOPA, the zone will cover areas to the border with Belarus, the districts of St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Samara.

Russia plans to introduce large-scale restrictions on civil aviation flights in the Moscow region and parts of the country’s central regions. The new rules may come into effect as early as early June, the Interregional Public Organization of Pilots and Aircraft Owners (AOPA) reports .

According to published information, the Moscow airspace is planning to ban flights of civil aircraft at altitudes from 0 to 5,100 meters.

“At the beginning of June 2026, civil aircraft flights in the Moscow airspace (Moscow RPI) at altitudes from 0 to 5100 m will be completely prohibited,” the organization noted.

The restrictions will apply to a significant portion of the airspace around the Russian capital. According to AOPA, the zone will cover areas to the border with Belarus, the areas of St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Samara.

Some flights will remain permitted. Exceptions are provided for regular and charter passenger flights operating to and from airports. The restrictions will also not apply to medical evacuation, sanitary aviation, aviation chemical works, infrastructure monitoring, and flights under government contracts.

The organization added that an official NOTAM with details of the new rules is expected in the near future.

Moscow and the Moscow region have previously reported drone attacks on several occasions. In particular, on the night of May 17, the region suffered one of the largest drone attacks in recent times.

After that, the Ukrainian side reported the destruction of a number of facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation, including oil refineries and production facilities related to the Russian defense industry.

(c)UNIAN 2026