- President Zelenskyy warned partners that "the safe days in Russia's skies are over," emphasizing that Ukraine does not want innocent lives lost.
- Zelenskyy stated that "drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation" and that "the sky over Russia is currently for drones ... as long as the war continues."
- Last week, Zelenskyy threatened to deploy up to 1,000 long-range drones per day.
- Moscow responded by saying it was improving flight safety and would not allow Ukraine to seriously disrupt aviation.
- While European and US carriers do not fly over Russia due to the conflict, the airspace is used by airlines from China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a stark warning to airlines, urging them to steer clear of Russian airspace, stating, 'the safe days in Russia's skies are over'. This warning comes as Ukraine intensifies its drone strikes on Russian territory, prompting Kyiv to formally notify the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that Russian airspace is 'not safe'.
Zelenskyy emphasized the risks, saying, 'Drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation', and noted that the airspace over Russia is currently dominated by drones as long as the war continues. He also threatened to deploy up to 1,000 long-range drones per day in the ongoing conflict.
Despite the warnings from Ukraine, airlines from countries such as China, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates continue to utilize Russian airspace, while European and US carriers have already ceased operations there due to safety concerns. In response to Ukraine's claims, Moscow has asserted that it is improving flight safety measures and will not allow Ukraine to significantly disrupt aviation operations.
The situation highlights the growing tensions in the region and the potential risks for civilian aviation as the conflict escalates.
“Zelenskyy's warning follows his threat to deploy up to 1,000 long-range drones per day, while European and US carriers already avoid Russian airspace, leaving airlines from China, Turkey, and Gulf countries to use it. Moscow insists it will not allow Ukraine to seriously disrupt aviation.”
DW.com
