Russia Says It Can Counter Ukraine's Airspace Threat, Keep Flights Safe
Russia's transport minister says Moscow has solutions to prevent Ukrainian threats from disrupting civil aviation, following Zelenskiy's warning.
Russia has asserted that it will prevent any significant disruption to its civil aviation sector, responding to a warning from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that drone activity has made Russian airspace effectively closed and dangerous for airlines.
Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin said on Wednesday that Moscow is factoring in such threats and continuously upgrading flight safety and airport security protocols. "We have solutions for all the threats that terrorists are voicing," he was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.
Nikitin added that his ministry is coordinating closely with the Defence Ministry and the National Guard, expressing confidence that Russia will not allow any major interference with civilian flights.
The remarks follow Zelenskiy's Tuesday caution to airlines and insurers about the risks of operating in Russian airspace. In response, President Vladimir Putin characterized the Ukrainian leader's statement as an intention to commit "state terrorism," warning that Moscow would find a way to respond should such actions occur.