Zelensky Warns Russian Sky Is Becoming Completely Dangerous for Airlines Among Most Dangerous Countries
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that escalating Ukrainian drone operations have made Russian airspace effectively closed to civilian airlines among most dangerous countries, stating that "the sky is for drones" and that the Russian sky is becoming completely dangerous. [4] Zelensky directed the warning to airlines and insurers still using Russian airports, particularly those serving Moscow and St Petersburg. [5] Most Western airlines already avoid Russian airspace due to the invasion, but carriers from China, Turkey and Gulf states continue to use it for fuel and time savings on Asia-Europe routes. [5]
Zelensky's Warning on Russian Airspace Among Most Dangerous Countries
Zelensky emphasised that Ukraine does not target civilian aircraft but that the scale of drone presence must be accounted for, adding that the war started by Russia is closing its skies. [5] He said in his nightly video address that "the Russian sky is becoming completely dangerous" and directed the message to every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer and everyone who still uses key Russian airports. [4] Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such and not a single civilian aircraft, yet there will simply be drones in Russia's skies on a scale that has to be taken into account. [5] Zelensky noted that the war started by Russia is closing its skies while most Western commercial airlines already do not fly over Russia as a consequence of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. [5]
Russian Response and Ongoing Attacks
Russian President Vladimir Putin called Zelensky's statement a "declaration of state terrorism" and said Russia would continue intensifying attacks on Ukraine, including massive strikes on power stations. [5] Putin responded by saying that Zelensky's comments amounted to a "declaration of state terrorism" while adding that Russia would continue its own intensifying attacks on Ukraine. [5] Speaking to reporters at the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan, Putin said they are asking Russia to resume negotiations but you don't negotiate with terrorists. [5] His comments come as Russia's attacks on Ukraine continue, with heavy strikes killing 12 people on Monday. [5] The military has said it is preparing to carry out "massive" strikes on Ukrainian power stations. [5]
Lawyer for Russian Volunteer Corps deputy head discusses condition of those injured in Ukrainian law enforcement clash. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Risk Assessments for Aviation
Aviation risk firm Osprey Flight Solutions assessed that Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia are almost certain to continue and increase in frequency, with miscalculation risks in conflict-related areas. [5] The firm said in an alert to clients that while the majority of Ukraine's drone and missile strikes were likely to occur within 300km of the border, daily attacks deeper inside Russia were almost certain to continue this year. [5] There is also a realistic possibility that the frequency of Ukrainian strikes will continue to increase in the short term deep inside Russian territory. [5] It is assessed that miscalculation and/or misidentification is likely in areas related to the Ukraine conflict. [5]
Context of Civilian Airspace Use
Chinese, Turkish and Gulf state airlines are among those using Russian airspace, with savings in time and fuel on routes between Asia and Europe. [5] Other carriers have largely avoided the eastern European region since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. [5] Ukraine has closed its airspace to civilian aircraft since the beginning of the war. [5] Last year, the UN aviation agency ruled that Russia was responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in July 2014. [5] All 298 people on board the passenger plane were killed when it was shot down by a Russian-made missile. [5] The Kremlin has always denied any responsibility for the air disaster. [5] In 2024, Putin apologised to the president of neighbouring Azerbaijan over the downing of a commercial airliner in Russian airspace, in which 38 people were killed. [5] He said the "tragic incident" had occurred when Russian air defence systems were repelling Ukrainian drones. [5]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during his nightly video address. — Source: bbc
Ukrainian Personnel Losses and Internal Incidents
A 19-year-old Ukrainian soldier, Artiom Sinevych, was killed by an anti-personnel mine in Sumy Oblast while returning from his first combat mission. [1] Artiom Sinevych, a 19-year-old student and Ukrainian serviceman from Kyiv Oblast, has been killed in Sumy Oblast while returning from his first combat mission. [1] Just a few months ago, the young man switched to part-time study so that he could join the defence of Ukraine. [1] In 2024, the young man joined Centuria, a youth organisation affiliated with Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade, and enrolled at the State Tax University. [1] At the end of summer, while returning from a combat mission, the young man's group stepped on an anti-personnel mine. [1] He died at the scene from his injuries. [1] Separately, a confrontation between Ukrainian law enforcement bodies in Kyiv injured three Defence Intelligence of Ukraine servicemen. [2] Three Defence Intelligence of Ukraine servicemen were injured in a confrontation between representatives of the Security Service of Ukraine and DIU in Kyiv's Dniprovskyi district. [2] One of them had an artery severed by a gunshot to the leg and was bleeding heavily. [2] The second is also in a serious condition in hospital. [2] The third sustained a less serious injury. [2]
Black Sea Maritime Adaptations
Ships adopt makeshift anti-drone defences as Black Sea attacks intensify. [3] The intensification of attacks in the Black Sea has led ships to adopt makeshift anti-drone defences. [3]
What to watch next: Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia are almost certain to continue and increase in frequency according to aviation risk assessments, while Russia prepares massive strikes on Ukrainian power stations.
