Ukraine’s drone attack forces closure of two Moscow airports

(Reuters) – Ukraine launched at least 17 drones targeting Moscow early on Sunday, forcing the temporarily closure of two of the capital's airports, Russian officials said.

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the 12 drones were destroyed in the Ramenskoye and Kolomensky districts of the Moscow region, as well as in Domodedovo city, southwest of Moscow.

"According to preliminary information, there is no damage or casualties at the site of the fall of the debris," Sobyanin said on the Telegram messaging app. "Emergency services are on the sites."

The Ramenskoye district, some 45 km (30 miles) southeast of the Kremlin, was last targeted in September Ukraine's biggest attack on the Russian capital, when Russian air defence units destroyed 20 drones.

Rosaviatsia, Russia's federal air transport agency, said on Telegram that "to ensure the safety of civil aircraft flights, temporary restrictions have been introduced on the operation of the Domodedovo and Zhukovo airports," starting at 0530 GMT.

It did not say how long the restrictions would be in force.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by William Mallard)