Russia Vows to Keep Skies Open as Ukraine Warns of Drone Threat to Aviation
Russia pledges no major flight disruption after Ukraine warns its drones make Russian airspace unsafe; some airlines cancel flights.
Russia has moved to reassure airlines and passengers that it will prevent significant disruption to civil aviation, following a stark warning from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that drone activity has made Russian airspace hazardous.
Speaking on Tuesday, Zelenskiy said the presence of Ukrainian drones, deployed in response to Russian attacks, meant the war was effectively closing Russian skies. He clarified that civilian aircraft were not a target. Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, confirmed on Wednesday that the International Civil Aviation Organization had been formally notified that Russian airspace is unsafe.
While European and American carriers have avoided Russian airspace since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, airlines from China, Turkey, the Gulf states, and others continue to use it. Russian Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin, quoted by the Interfax news agency, said Moscow is working closely with the Defence Ministry and the National Guard to enhance flight safety and airport security. "We will not allow any significant disruption to civil aviation," he asserted.
Despite these assurances, flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed considerable disruption at Moscow's main airports on Wednesday. Sheremetyevo International Airport reported 21 cancellations and 235 delays, while Vnukovo saw 22 cancellations and 94 delays.
Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines cancelled some flights to Russia for "technical and operational" reasons, without elaborating. Vnukovo confirmed Pegasus had cancelled six arrivals and six departures on Tuesday. Dubai-based flydubai acknowledged that some services could face delays or diversions, stating it was closely monitoring the situation and adjusting schedules as necessary.
Other major carriers that routinely fly to or over Russia, including Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Emirates, did not respond to requests for comment.
Aviation risk consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions has advised clients that while most Ukrainian strikes occur within 300 kilometres of the border, daily attacks deeper inside Russia, including near Moscow and St Petersburg, are likely to continue through 2026. The warnings come as Russia intensifies its own aerial assaults on Kyiv, with the Ukrainian capital enduring a seventh consecutive day of attacks.