Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned airlines, passengers and insurance companies against using Russian airspace, saying an intensification of Ukrainian drone activity has made the skies
over Russia increasingly dangerous for civilian aviation.
“Today, we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, everyone who still uses key Russian airports: the Russian sky is becoming completely dangerous,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.
He said Ukraine did not intend to target civilian aircraft, but warned that the growing presence of Ukrainian drones in Russian airspace would have to be taken into account by airlines and other aviation stakeholders.
Ukraine poses no threat to civil aviation, he said, “but there will be drones in Russia’s skies and due notice must be taken”.
“Although Russian authorities are not properly announcing it, Russian airspace will effectively be closing. The war started by Russia is closing its own skies,” Zelenskyy added.
He said Ukraine was issuing the warning to prevent civilian casualties and urged foreign governments and airlines to take the situation seriously.
Also Read: Putin Fears He Will Be ‘Hanged’ If Russia Fails To Capture Donbas Before Ukraine War Ends: Report
“We in Ukraine do not want innocent lives to be lost. That is why we are warning our partners: the safe days in Russia’s skies are over. It is important that this is heard by the ambassadors of countries represented here in Ukraine, as well as by ambassadors working in Moscow. Every one of them knows exactly what Russia’s war means for our country and our people, and they must convey this information to their capitals. It is important that the airlines currently flying to airports primarily in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other key destinations in Russia hear this as well,” he added.
Zelenskyy also said Ukraine would share information about the risks with international organisations.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and our other institutions will provide international organisations with full information about the dangers in Russian airspace. Drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation,” he said.
Putin Calls Zelenskyy Warning ‘Declaration Of State Terrorism’
Russian President Vladimir Putin hit back at Zelenskyy’s warning, describing it as a threat and branding the comments a “declaration of state terrorism”.
“They are asking us to resume negotiations… but you don’t negotiate with terrorists,” Putin said at a televised news conference.
The exchange comes as both Russia and Ukraine have intensified their long-range attacks more than four years after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has stepped up its air attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in recent weeks. At least 12 people were killed in Kyiv and the surrounding region during fresh massive overnight Russian strikes on Tuesday, according to Ukrainian authorities.
At the same time, Ukrainian drone attacks have increasingly disrupted air traffic across Russia, with airports, particularly those serving major cities, facing repeated restrictions when drones are detected or expected in the vicinity.
Also Read:Indian Among 12 Killed In Russian Overnight Attack On Ukraine, Says Zelenskyy
However, Zelenskyy said Ukraine could temporarily halt drone activity in specific areas if requested by its partners as part of diplomatic efforts.
He said Ukraine would clear its drones from Russian skies “for the sake of diplomacy, for the sake of negotiations… for specific periods of time and in specific destinations”.
Diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war, including those involving US mediation, have struggled to make progress, while the broader security situation has become increasingly volatile.
With inputs from AFP, Reuters
