Russian Antonov-124 flies low over Moscow amid Ukrainian drone swarm | Watch

Russia's giant cargo plane flies dangerously low over Moscow

A video showing a Russian cargo plane flying low over high-rise apartments in a Moscow suburb amid Ukrainian drone attacks has gone viral.

BBC cited Russian media reports that numerous drone warnings led to halted flights and the temporary closure of Sheremetyevo Airport, north of the city. Verified footage showed the aircraft was an Antonov AN-124 Ruslan cargo plane flying east away from Vnukovo International Airport, about 6 km (3.7 miles) to the west. The Antonov-124 measures 226 feet in length, has a wingspan of 240 feet, and weighs 450 tons.

According to Express US, the scenes unfolded as swarms of Ukrainian kamikaze drones struck Moscow overnight and into Tuesday morning, disrupting flights.

“The pilot was deliberately flying at a low altitude due to Ukrainian UAVs in the sky," reported Russian outlet SHOT about the Antonov-124 military transport. “Residents of New Moscow… heard a loud roar and were a little scared when they saw the plane over the houses."

Meanwhile in Moscow a giant military cargo plane is flying around between the buildings, probably trying to avoid their own air-defense thinking it's a Ukrainian moped drone - All according to plan. pic.twitter.com/La3D5gVrYH

— Kvist (@kvistp) September 22, 2025

The Sun reported that the low flight was intentional to avoid the Ukrainian drones. Russian air defenses scrambled to intercept the incoming unmanned drones in one of the largest attacks on Moscow since the start of the war.