Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned airlines and insurers that Ukrainian drones had made Russian airspace dangerous to use. The statement came as Russian strikes intensified on Kyiv and Ukraine kept up drone attacks on Russian targets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines and insurance companies on Tuesday that the presence of Ukrainian drones had made Russian airspace dangerous to use and was effectively closing the skies.
“Today, we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, everyone who still uses key Russian airports: the Russian sky is becoming completely dangerous,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine posed no threat to civil aviation, but warned that Ukrainian drones would continue to operate in Russian skies.
“Ukraine poses no threat to civil aviation, but there will be drones in Russia’s skies and due notice must be taken,” he said.
He said Russian authorities were not properly announcing the danger, but argued that the country’s airspace would effectively close as a result.
“Although Russian authorities are not properly announcing it, Russian airspace will effectively be closing. The war started by Russia is closing its own skies,” Zelenskyy added.
Russia has stepped up its air attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in recent weeks.
Moscow’s latest strike killed 12 people and injured many more, marking the sixth straight day of intense assaults on the Ukrainian capital.
Ukraine has responded with frequent drone strikes on Russian targets.
Many of the Ukrainian strikes have targeted sites associated with Russia’s oil industry, as well as retail sites.
Zelenskyy’s warning comes as Ukrainian drone activity continues over Russia while Russian air attacks intensify against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
With Reuters inputs.
