Zelenskiy warns airlines: Russian skies effectively closed due to drone threat
Ukraine's president warns airlines and insurers that Russian airspace is becoming too dangerous due to Ukrainian drone operations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has issued a direct warning to airlines and insurance companies, stating that Russian airspace is becoming increasingly hazardous for civil aviation due to the presence of Ukrainian drones. In his nightly video address, he declared that the Russian sky is "becoming completely dangerous" and urged all carriers and insurers still operating through key Russian airports to take note.
Zelenskiy stressed that Ukraine poses no threat to civilian aircraft, but made clear that drones will continue to operate in Russian skies. He asserted that Russian authorities are not properly informing the public, but that Russian airspace will effectively be closing as a result of the war Moscow itself started.
The warning comes amid an escalation in hostilities. Russia has intensified its air campaign against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, with a recent strike killing 12 people and injuring many more — marking the sixth consecutive day of heavy assaults on the capital. In response, Ukraine has carried out frequent drone strikes on Russian targets, many linked to the country's oil industry and retail sites.