Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned airlines, insurers and operators still using Russian airspace that the route is becoming “completely unsafe” as Ukraine expands its long-range drone campaign. In his nightly address and on social media, the Ukrainian president told carriers serving Moscow, St Petersburg and other Russian airports that the “safe days in Russia’s skies are over”, while stressing that civilian aircraft are not being targeted.
The warning follows a formal notification from Ukraine’s foreign ministry to the International Civil Aviation Organization about risks to civilian aviation in Russian airspace. The move does not amount to a binding closure, but it raises the operational risk for airlines that still route flights over Russia or to Russian destinations.
Russian airports have already faced repeated disruptions from drone-related air-traffic restrictions, and the latest escalation is likely to keep pressure on carriers, insurers and route planners outside Europe and the United States that still assess Russian overflight options. Kyiv’s message is that the drone threat over Russia is increasing and must be factored into commercial and operational decisions.