President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on international airlines, insurers and foreign governments to reassess the risks associated with flying in Russian airspace. He linked the danger to the war and the increasing number of drones over Russia, emphasising that this could affect flights to Russia’s largest airports and transit routes.
Briefly about the main points
- Zelenskyy has warned that the danger to flights over Russia is increasing.
- This appeal is addressed to transport operators, insurers, governments and diplomats.
- It is proposed that particular attention be paid to flights to Moscow and St Petersburg.
- Ukraine will share risk data with international organisations.
- EASA advises against flying over a large part of western Russia.
Zelenskyy addressed transport operators, insurers and diplomats
The President said that the announcement primarily concerns companies that continue to use Russian airspace or operate flights to its key airports. According to him, the Russian sky «becomes completely unsafe», as the presence of drones is having an increasing impact on flight conditions.
Zelensky He emphasised that Ukraine poses no threat to civilian aircraft as such and has no interest in causing casualties amongst passengers. «Civil aviation has no place amongst drones,» he said.
Separately, the President urged people to be aware of the risks on routes to Moscow, St Petersburg and other key Russian destinations. In his view, the Russian authorities do not always provide adequate warnings about air threats, and airspace restrictions due to the consequences of the war will become increasingly frequent.
Zelenskyy also appealed to the ambassadors of foreign states in Ukraine and Russia, calling on them to convey this information to their governments. He believes that risk assessment should be a key factor in decisions regarding international flights and their insurance cover.
Ukraine will inform international bodies about aviation risks
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Ukrainian government bodies are to provide international organisations with information on the risks to civil aviation in Russian airspace. This does not involve Ukraine formally declaring the closure of another state’s airspace, but rather encouraging operators, insurance companies and governments to take military risks into account in their own decisions.
On 24 July 2026, the European Aviation Safety Agency extended the active bulletin concerning Russian airspace until 31 January 2027. EASA advises against flying at all altitudes over the territory of the Russian Federation west of the 60th meridian east, which includes the areas of Moscow and St Petersburg.
The agency attributes the risk of accidental strikes on civilian aircraft to shortcomings in civil-military coordination, mistaken target identification and the operation of Russian air defence systems in response to missile and drone attacks. The British authorities also warn that temporary closures of Russian airspace during drone attacks are causing delays, diversions and flight cancellations.
