Zelensky says airlines should avoid Russian airspace as Ukraine escalates drone operations
Chinese and Gulf state airlines are among those still using Russian airspace. Meanwhile, Russia says it will intensify its own attacks on Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a warning to airlines, stating that Russian airspace is becoming "completely dangerous" and will "effectively clos[e]" as Ukraine intensifies its drone operations.
In his nightly video address on Tuesday, the Ukrainian president urged "every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, everyone who still uses key Russian airports" to heed the warning. He clarified that "Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such - not a single civilian aircraft," but cautioned that "there will simply be drones in Russia's skies on a scale that has to be taken into account." Zelensky asserted that "the war started by Russia is closing its skies," specifically directing his warning to carriers flying to major Russian cities like St Petersburg and Moscow.
Most Western commercial airlines have avoided Russian airspace since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, airlines from countries such as China, Turkey, and Gulf states continue to utilize these routes, benefiting from time and fuel savings on flights between Asia and Europe. Ukraine itself has kept its airspace closed to civilian aircraft since the war began.
In response to Zelensky's comments, Russian President Vladimir Putin characterized them as a "declaration of state terrorism." Speaking to reporters at the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan, Putin stated, "They are asking us to resume negotiations... but you don't negotiate with terrorists." He also affirmed that Russia would continue its own escalating attacks on Ukraine.
Ukraine has been targeting energy facilities and large retailers deep within Russian territory. Aviation risk advisory firm Osprey Flight Solutions informed clients that while most Ukrainian drone and missile strikes are likely to occur within 300km (186 miles) of the border, daily attacks further into Russia are almost certain to persist this year. The firm's alert also noted a "realistic possibility that the frequency of Ukrainian strikes will continue to increase in the short term deep inside Russian territory," and that "miscalculation and/or misidentification is likely in areas related to the Ukraine conflict."
Russia's attacks on Ukraine have continued, with heavy strikes killing 12 people on Monday. The Russian military has announced preparations for "massive" strikes on Ukrainian power stations. Putin acknowledged damage to Russian infrastructure from Ukrainian strikes but claimed that "only 10%" of oil refineries remained to be repaired.
Last year, the UN aviation agency determined that Russia was responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, which killed all 298 people on board. The Kremlin has consistently denied responsibility for the incident, which involved a Russian-made missile. In 2024, Putin apologized to Azerbaijan's president for the downing of a commercial airliner in Russian airspace, which resulted in 38 deaths. He attributed this "tragic incident" to Russian air defense systems repelling Ukrainian drones.