Ukrainian President Urges Airlines to Refrain from Russian Airspace Amid Drone Escalation
Ukraine's president has told airlines that Russian airspace will be “effectively closing” as his country escalates its drone strikes.
Zelensky warned airlines, insurers, and anyone using Russian airports that “the Russian sky is becoming completely dangerous.” He has formally notified the United Nations of the risks to civilian aviation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the warning, calling it a “declaration of state terrorism.”
Most Western commercial airlines already avoid flying over Russia because of the invasion, but carriers from Turkey, China, and Gulf states still use the airspace. They are now monitoring the situation closely, with some adjusting flight plans.
In a nightly address, Zelensky stressed that Ukraine does not threaten civilian aircraft directly, but “there will simply be drones in Russia's skies on a scale that has to be taken into account.” He applied the warning to airlines operating flights to Russian airports such as St Petersburg and Moscow.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha released a statement on X confirming Ukraine’s notification to the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace is unsafe for civilian aviation and that the war is “returning home to Russia.”
FlightRadar24 data on Wednesday afternoon showed several planes flying over Russia, with arrivals and departures at the two main airports experiencing delays but few cancellations. Airlines such as Qatar Airways, Pegasus, and FlyDubai said they were carefully monitoring the situation and adjusting schedules as needed.
Ukraine’s drone attacks have intensified, targeting energy facilities and causing repeated disruptions at Russian airports, especially in Moscow where all four major airports have sometimes halted operations. The Russian “Kovyor” air defence plan suspends flights when a drone is detected.
Aviation safety experts warn that risks remain high; a 2014 missile strike had downed a passenger plane killing all 298 on board, and the 2014 MH17 crash was ruled to be caused by Russian forces. Ukraine’s recent warnings therefore underscore the ongoing danger to civil aviation amid the conflict.
