Can Ukraine’s drones shut Russian airspace? What that means for airlines
What happens if the airspace of the world's largest country by land mass is out of bounds because of Ukrainian drones?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cautioned airlines to refrain from using Russian airspace due to escalating Ukrainian drone attacks. Kyiv formally informed the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of the unsafe condition of Russian airspace, urging UN agencies to prohibit member countries from utilizing it.
President Zelenskyy stated, "We in Ukraine do not want innocent lives to be lost. That is why we are warning our partners: the safe days in Russia's skies are over. The sky over Russia is currently for drones... as long as the war continues." Last week, Zelenskyy had threatened to dispatch up to 1,000 long-range drones per day. In response to the drone activity, Russia's aviation watchdog has frequently closed airports.
Ukrainian drone strikes on Wednesday resulted in the death of two civilians and the wounding of six in Belgorod, Russia, while Kyiv faced attacks for the seventh consecutive day. Russia retaliated by striking electricity facilities in Odesa, leaving over 350,000 homes without power.
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