Zelenskyy Warns Russian Airspace Will Effectively Close Due to Drone Threat
Zelenskyy warns airlines to avoid Russian airspace, saying drone operations will make flying unsafe, as Moscow's missile attacks on Ukraine continue.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a stark warning to international airlines and insurers, stating that Russian airspace will effectively become unusable due to a planned expansion of Ukrainian drone operations.
In a post on X late Tuesday, Zelenskyy said, "Russian airspace will effectively be closing," adding that "there will simply be drones in Russia's skies on a scale that has to be taken into account." He clarified that Ukraine does not intend to threaten civilian aircraft but stressed that flying over Russia, including to major hubs like Moscow and St. Petersburg, is becoming increasingly hazardous.
The warning comes as Russia's bombing campaign against Kyiv and its surrounding areas entered a sixth consecutive night. Ukraine is reportedly facing a critical shortage of US-made Patriot air defense missiles, with near-constant air raid alarms disrupting daily life across the country.
Ukraine has been unable to maintain its own civilian air traffic since the full-scale invasion began over four and a half years ago. Russia, in contrast, continues to operate domestic and some international flights, a vital link for a country spanning 11 time zones.
The planned drone campaign would build on Kyiv's existing strategy of striking targets deep inside Russia, including refineries, ports, and recently, warehouses belonging to major online retailers.
In a separate video statement, Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine is aware of its partners planning new talks in Moscow. He said Kyiv would be prepared, at the allies' request, to temporarily clear parts of Russian skies of drones to facilitate peace negotiations.
Zelenskyy also revealed that Ukraine had previously paused strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg in late August at the request of the US, to allow for a visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe. He added that Kyiv had also suspended attacks near Vladivostok at the request of another, unidentified country.
US-brokered peace efforts have stalled since President Donald Trump returned to office, with both sides instead escalating aerial attacks on each other's energy and logistics infrastructure. Zelenskyy mentioned a "detailed and constructive conversation" with Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and said they are now discussing dates for a visit to Kyiv. Witkoff has made eight trips to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin.