Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Russia’s airspace is becoming “completely unsafe” as drones appear more often and he stressed Ukraine does not intend to target civilian flights.
- Carriers including Pegasus and Turkish Airlines diverted or canceled services to Moscow after the warning, and The Moscow Times counted roughly 80 delays or cancellations at Moscow airports.
- Rosaviatsiya issued a NOTAM saying Ukrainian documents on Russian airspace have no legal force and that Russian civil aviation will continue planned operations.
- The Kremlin condemned Zelensky’s remarks, with President Vladimir Putin calling them a “proposal for state terrorism,” while the Ministry of Transport vowed to prevent major interruptions to civilian flights.
- Pro-war commentators in Russia have demanded tougher strikes, and the flight disruptions risk further diplomatic and economic fallout if more airlines suspend routes.