Zelenskyy warns airlines ‘safe days in Russia’s skies are over’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned airlines that “safe days in Russia’s skies are over”, suggesting that continuing to fly in the area could result in “innocent lives” being lost.
In a statement on September 1, 2026, Zelenskyy directed his message to “every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, and everyone who still uses Russia’s key airports”.
“Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe,” Zelenskyy said. “Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such – not a single civilian aircraft. There will simply be drones in Russia’s skies on a scale that has to be taken into account.”
He said that Russian authorities “are not properly informing people” about the dangers and that the country’s airspace will “effectively be closing”.
“It is important that this is heard by the ambassadors of countries represented here in Ukraine, as well as by ambassadors working in Moscow,” Zelenskyy added. “Every one of them knows exactly what Russia’s war means for our country and our people, and they must convey this information to their capitals. It is important that the airlines currently flying to airports primarily in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other key destinations in Russia hear this as well.”
According to the statement, Ukraine will provide international organizations with “full information about the dangers in Russian airspace”.
“Drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation,” Zelenskyy ended.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in reply to Zelenskyy’s warning that the statement was a “declaration of state terrorism”.
On September 2, 2026, air travel over Russia appeared to continue as normal with both domestic and international carriers, including Emirates and Turkish Airlines, operating in the airspace, according to Flightradar24.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned airlines that “safe days in Russia’s skies are over”, suggesting that continuing…
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