Ukraine Warns of Unsafe Russian Skies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines, insurers and airport operators that Russian airspace could become unsafe for civilian aviation as Ukraine responds to continued Russian attacks. In an address published Sept. 1, he said drones would increasingly operate in Russian skies while insisting Ukraine does not intend to target civilian aircraft.

Zelenskyy said Russia had intensified attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure since August, including a ballistic missile strike on Kyiv, drone attacks on other cities and a strike on a railway depot. He also accused Russia of targeting Ukraine’s energy system, transport networks, schools and other civilian facilities.

The president said Ukraine was exercising its right to self-defense by targeting Russian military assets and parts of the economy supporting the war effort. He urged foreign ambassadors to communicate the risks to their governments and said Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry would provide international organizations with information about hazards in Russian airspace.

Zelenskyy also said Ukraine had agreed to temporary pauses in strikes along specified routes or near certain Russian cities when requested by international partners. He said such pauses could be extended to support diplomacy, adding that civilian aviation safety would return when there was meaningful progress toward ending the war.