Ukraine’s President Zelensky cautions airlines that Russian skies are increasingly unsafe amid rising drone operations.
In a nightly video address, Volodymyr Zelensky urged airlines, insurers and anyone who still flies into Russian airports to steer clear of the country’s airspace. He said the “Russian sky is becoming completely dangerous” and that Ukraine’s military escalation with drones would make flying over Russian territory perilous.
The warning was aimed squarely at carriers that still use Russia’s major hubs – Moscow and St Petersburg – and at Asian, Turkish and Gulf airlines that exploit Russia for shorter routes between Asia and Europe.
Putin’s rebuke and the ongoing conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called Zelensky’s remarks a “declaration of state terrorism” and warned that Russia would continue its intensified attacks on Ukraine, citing recent strikes that killed 12 people on Monday.
In an advisory issued by aviation risk specialist Osprey Flight Solutions, the company highlighted that Ukrainian drone and missile attacks are expected to concentrate within 300 km of the border, but also likely to penetrate deeper into Russian territory as the year progresses. The firm noted the high probability of misidentification in conflict zones and warned that frequent strikes might become a short‑term reality.
Impact on airlines.
- Most Western carriers have already ceased flights over Russian airspace, redirecting routes around the conflict zone.
- Carriers from China, Turkey, and Gulf states still operate on Russia‑to‑Europe routes, benefiting from time and fuel savings.
- Zelensky’s warning could force a measurable shift, increasing flight times and operational costs for those carriers.
- Ukraine has closed its own airspace to civilian aircraft since the war began in 2022, adding another layer of complexity to international aviation routes.
The backdrop to these warnings includes a long‑standing history of downed civilian aircraft in the region: the UN‑deemed responsible for the 2014 Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 that killed 298 people, and a 2024 incident that claimed 38 lives over a commercial airliner in Russian airspace, for which Putin expressed no admission of fault.
Visual highlight.
Photo: AFP via Getty Images
