Ukraine has issued a fresh warning to airlines operating through Russian airspace, saying the rapid expansion of its drone campaign could make flights over Russia increasingly dangerous.
President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered the warning as Ukrainian forces continue targeting infrastructure and strategic facilities deep inside Russian territory.
Addressing Ukrainians in his nightly speech, Zelensky said airlines, insurers and companies using Russian airports should reconsider the risks associated with operating in the country’s airspace.
He stressed that Ukraine does not intend to attack passenger aircraft, but said the growing number of drones over Russian territory would inevitably create a threat that commercial aviation operators must consider.
The Ukrainian president said the war had created an environment in which Russia could no longer guarantee the safety of its own skies.
Asian and Gulf carriers still use Russian routes
The warning is particularly relevant to airlines that continue to fly through Russian airspace.
While many Western carriers stopped using Russian routes after the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, airlines from China, Turkey and Gulf countries have continued using some of the air corridors.
The routes can offer significant operational advantages because they shorten some journeys between Europe and Asia.
But the increasing number of Ukrainian drone operations has raised concerns about the possibility of an aircraft encountering a drone or being mistakenly identified during an attack.
Reuters reported that aviation risk specialists expect Ukrainian strikes inside Russia to continue, with attacks potentially reaching areas far from the Ukrainian border.
Moscow rejects Kyiv’s warning
Putin has strongly rejected Zelensky’s position.
The Russian president accused the Ukrainian government of terrorism and said Moscow would not negotiate with terrorists.
At the same time, Putin acknowledged that Ukrainian attacks have caused damage to infrastructure inside Russia, including oil refineries.
The Russian leader has continued to insist that Moscow’s military campaign is progressing despite Ukraine’s increasingly ambitious drone operations.
Air war intensifies
The latest confrontation comes after several days of heavy Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Kyiv has suffered repeated missile and drone strikes, with the latest major attack killing at least 12 people, according to Ukrainian authorities and international reports.
Ukraine has responded by expanding its own campaign against targets inside Russia.
The development has effectively widened the geographical reach of the air war and increased pressure on airlines operating near areas affected by the conflict.
With neither side showing signs of reducing its long-range attacks, aviation authorities and commercial carriers face growing pressure to reassess the risks associated with Russian airspace.
