Global Markets
Home›Global Markets›Trade & Tariffs›Zelenskyy warns insurers and airlines as Russia airspa…
Zelenskyy warns insurers and airlines as Russia airspace grows unsafe
The Ukrainian foreign ministry says it notified the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace is not safe for civilian aviation amid increased military activity, raising pressure on insurers and airport operators.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia’s airspace is becoming unsafe for commercial airlines as more Ukrainian drones are launched into Russian territory, urging airlines, insurers, and users of Russia’s key airports to factor in the risk.
According to Zelenskyy, Kyiv has no intention of directly threatening civilian flights, but the expanding drone activity needs to be “taken into account” by the aviation industry. Ukraine’s foreign secretary, Andrii Sybiha, said Kyiv notified the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace is not safe for civilian aviation due to increased military activity.
The report also notes that Ukraine has been able to strike targets deep inside Russia, including around Moscow and St Petersburg, following a rapid escalation of capabilities in recent months. Reliable counts of drone flights are difficult to obtain, but the article says Ukraine can launch a few hundred drones a day and is aiming for 1,000 drones to hurt Russia’s economy.
An aviation analyst cited by the outlet said periodic closures of Russian airports could be forced on a semi-regular basis by using surprise waves of drones. The article adds that Russian airspace has been closed for Ukraine’s commercial air operations since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, and this year Ukraine began bombing oil refineries and warehouses near Moscow.