Russia plans to more than double prohibited flight zones nationwide

Russia's Transport Ministry intends to more than double the number of prohibited flight zones nationwide, increasing them from 374 to 818, according to Kommersant, a Russian newspaper. The restrictions aim to safeguard vital industrial, energy, and transportation infrastructure across all 14 sectors of Russia's Unified Air Traffic Management System, from St. Petersburg and Moscow to Magadan and Yakutia.

The draft order, titled "On the Establishment of Prohibited Zones," includes a broader range of aircraft, including drones, than the current version adopted in 2022. The new restrictions, set to take effect upon publication, will remain in force indefinitely, with exceptions for Defense Ministry aircraft and, in certain cases, oil company flights.

Russia has implemented additional airspace restrictions twice this summer due to a surge in drone attacks, initially banning light and ultralight aircraft from flying up to 5,200 meters over central Russia in June and later tightening restrictions around Moscow's major airports in July. Aviation industry representative Sergei Deteneshev cautioned that expanding prohibited zones could heighten the risk of accidental violations due to human error or navigation mistakes, potentially leading to aircraft unintentionally entering active air defense zones and facing the risk of being shot down.