Zelenskyy Warned Airlines About the Dangers in Russian Airspace
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines, insurers, and other companies that use Russian airspace about the increasing danger of flying over Russia. According to him, due to the war and the activity of Ukrainian drones, Russian airspace will effectively become unsuitable for safe civilian flights.
In an evening address on September 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian airspace is becoming increasingly dangerous. He addressed, first and foremost, foreign airlines, insurance companies, and anyone who continues to use key Russian airports. “Today we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, and everyone who still uses key Russian airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely dangerous,” Zelenskyy said.
The president emphasized that Ukraine does not aim to attack civilian aviation. According to him, Ukrainian forces do not pose a threat to civilian aircraft; however, the number of drones in Russian airspace will increase, and airlines need to take this risk into account. “Ukraine does not pose a threat to civil aviation as such—not to a single civilian aircraft. It’s just that there will be drones in Russian airspace, so this must be taken into account,” the head of state said.
Zelenskyy also stated that, in his opinion, Russian authorities are not adequately reporting the real risks to civil aviation. Because of this, international carriers and insurance companies must independently assess the situation unfolding in Russian airspace. According to the president, due to the war, Russian airspace may effectively be closed to civilian flights. “Although the Russian authorities are not reporting this as they should, Russian airspace will de facto be closed: the war unleashed by Russia is closing its own airspace,” Zelenskyy said.
The president explained that Ukraine is striking Russian military targets and facilities used to support the war. He described these actions as a response to Russian aggression and the exercise of Ukraine’s right to self-defense.
Separately, Zelenskyy called on foreign diplomats to convey this information to their governments. This applies to both ambassadors stationed in Ukraine and diplomats based in Moscow. “Each of them knows exactly what the Russian war means for our country and our people, and must convey this information to their capitals,” the president emphasized.
The appeal also applies to airlines that continue to fly to major Russian cities. Among them, Zelenskyy specifically mentioned Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as other key Russian destinations.
Ukraine plans to provide international organizations with detailed information about the dangers in Russian airspace. According to the president, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and other relevant government agencies will handle this. “It is important that the relevant airlines—which currently fly to airports primarily in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other key Russian destinations—hear this,” Zelenskyy said.
The president emphasized that the main goal of this warning is to prevent civilian casualties. Ukraine wants airlines and international organizations to take into account in advance the new risks associated with the war and the use of drones in Russian airspace. “We in Ukraine do not want innocent lives to be lost. That is why we are warning our partners: there are no longer any safe moments in Russian airspace,” Zelenskyy stated.
He also emphasized that civilian aircraft are not targets for Ukraine. At the same time, he said, amid active warfare and a large number of drones, civil aviation must not ignore the real risks. “Civil aviation has no place among drones,” the president concluded.
Thus, Ukraine is calling on the international aviation community to reassess the safety of flights over Russia. Kyiv links the increased danger directly to the war that Russia launched against Ukraine and its consequences for Russian airspace. This was reported by the head of state.
Russia continues to strike Ukrainian ports, civilian vessels, and shipping lanes in the Black Sea. According to Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa, Russian forces attacked more than 50 vessels in the summer of 2026 alone, and nearly 30 people were killed.
