Volodymyr Zelensky has warned airlines, insurers and operators still using Russian airspace that the route is becoming “completely dangerous” as Ukraine’s long-range drone campaign intensifies. The warning, issued as major Russian airports and routes near Moscow and St Petersburg remain exposed to disruption, raises fresh concerns for flight planning, war-risk coverage and overflight continuity for carriers that still serve Russia.
Ukraine has told the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace is no longer safe for civilian aviation. Zelensky’s message was aimed at carriers, insurers and airport users, with the Ukrainian side arguing that civilian aircraft are not being targeted but that the scale of drone activity over Russia makes the risk impossible to ignore.
The commercial impact could extend beyond direct flights into Russia. Airlines using neighbouring routings, as well as insurers pricing war-risk exposure, may need to reassess operations if drone activity deep inside Russia continues through the rest of the year. Aviation risk advisers have also warned that incidents could persist around key transport hubs and that further disruption to airport operations is likely.