Zelenskyy: Some airlines have started cancelling flights to Russia
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that some airlines have begun refusing to operate flights to Russia following his warning about the threat posed by drones in Russian airspace.
Source: Zelenskyy in his evening address
Quote: "We are receiving information that the first airlines have begun refusing to operate flights to Russian airports following our warning about the drone threat which objectively exists in Russian airspace.
This is the correct and entirely logical response to the facts on the ground – to everything that is happening because of the war that Putin does not want to end. We need to protect lives."
Details: Zelenskyy added that Ukraine has officially informed international organisations and partners about the actual situation in Russian airspace.
Update: Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) issued a notice to aviation personnel claiming that all documents published by Ukraine concerning Russian airspace have no legal force.
The agency also said that Russia's aviation and ground infrastructure continues to operate as normal, with flights, including those operated by foreign airlines, continuing to arrive and depart.
Background:
- On 1 September, Zelenskyy said in an address that Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe and warned all airlines that use Russian airspace about the danger.
- Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said such threats amounted to a declaration of "state terrorism". He also added that if such "tragedies" occur, Russia will find a way to respond.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on 2 September that Ukraine has officially informed the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) that Russian airspace is dangerous for civil aviation due to increased military activity.
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