- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) warned airlines, insurance firms and passengers that Russian airspace would be "completely unsafe" and filled with Ukrainian drones for the duration of the war.
- In his nightly address, Zelenskyy said: "Today, we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, and everyone who still uses Russia’s key airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe."
- Zelenskyy clarified that Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation, stating: "Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such — not a single civilian aircraft. There will simply be drones in Russia’s skies on a scale that has to be taken into account."
- Zelenskyy warned: "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."
- He added: "Drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation" and "The sky over Russia is currently for drones... as long as the war continues."
- More than four years after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, both Moscow and Kyiv have intensified their deadly strikes, with at least 12 people killed on Tuesday in Kyiv and the surrounding region during fresh massive overnight Russian strikes.
- Air traffic at Russian airports is regularly disrupted by the approach of Ukrainian drones, the number of which has increased in recent months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a stark warning regarding the safety of Russian airspace, stating it is now "completely unsafe" for civilian aviation due to the presence of Ukrainian drones. In his address, he emphasized that the skies over Russia are now dominated by drones, a situation that will persist as long as the war continues.1
Zelenskyy urged airlines, insurers, and passengers to reconsider their use of Russian airspace, highlighting the increased frequency of drone activity and the ongoing conflict. He stated, “Drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation,” and reassured that Ukraine does not intend to threaten civilian aircraft, noting, “not a single civilian aircraft” would be targeted.
The warning comes amid a backdrop of intensified military actions, with recent strikes resulting in at least 12 fatalities in Kyiv and surrounding areas. The Ukrainian president remarked, “We in Ukraine do not want innocent lives to be lost,” reinforcing the need for caution among international airlines operating in the region.
Zelenskyy also mentioned that Ukraine would consider clearing its drones from Russian airspace upon request from international partners, stating, “for the sake of diplomacy, for the sake of negotiations... for specific periods of time and in specific destinations.” This statement underscores the complex dynamics of the ongoing conflict and its implications for global aviation.
“Zelenskyy said Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation, but drones will fill Russian skies 'on a scale that has to be taken into account.' He added that Ukraine would clear its drones for diplomacy or negotiations, 'for specific periods of time and in specific destinations.'”
