Zelenskyy: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe

Tetyana Oliynyk - 1 September, 20:54

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his address on 1 September that Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe and issued a warning to all airlines that use it.

Source: Zelenskyy's evening address on 1 September

Quote: "Today we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, and everyone who still uses Russia's key airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe.

Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such – not a single civilian aircraft. It's simply that there will be drones in Russia's skies, and this must be taken into account. Although the Russian authorities are not properly informing people about this, Russian airspace will effectively be closing – the war started by Russia is closing its skies."

Details: The president added that Ukraine does not want innocent lives to be lost, and that is why it is warning its partners about the dangers in Russian airspace.

Quote: "Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our other institutions will provide international organisations with full information about the dangers in Russian airspace. Drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation."

Details: Zelenskyy recalled that when the United States asked Ukraine to suspend strikes on Moscow and St Petersburg on 25, 26 and 27 August, Ukraine did so. Russia, however, continued its attacks on Ukraine.

Quote: "When another global power asked us to pause strikes in the direction of Vladivostok for a specified period of time, we agreed to ensure that as well. New meetings in Moscow are now being prepared, and we will take that into account. We always support every step toward peace – every step to prevent Russia from making this war endless.

The war needs to end, and leaders are right to tell Putin this. So for the sake of diplomacy and negotiations, whenever our partners ask us to do so, we will ensure that Russian skies are cleared of drones for specified periods of time and along specified routes."