Ukraine is bracing for Russia’s hardest winter blitz yet

In a recent address on September 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a warning about the safety of Russian airspace due to the threat posed by Ukrainian drones. Addressing airlines, insurance companies, and diplomats, Zelensky stated, "Russian skies are becoming completely unsafe." He emphasized that although Ukraine is not targeting civilian aircraft, the presence of drones in Russian skies is making travel unsafe.

Zelensky explained that Ukraine does not wish to cause civilian deaths, hence the advance warnings regarding unsafe "windows" in Russian airspace. He urged ambassadors in Ukraine and Moscow to disseminate this message and warned carriers operating to key Russian destinations like Moscow and St. Petersburg to proceed with caution.

The Ukrainian government stands ready to provide international bodies with comprehensive data on the threats while emphasizing that civil aviation cannot safely navigate the current conditions. In August, The Atlantic reported that Ukraine had considered an operation, dubbed M&Ms, which envisioned deploying up to 1,000 AI-guided drones to disrupt Russian air defenses for a night and shut down the skies over Moscow, aiming to pressure the Kremlin for peace talks.

However, the plan was abandoned in July after the dismissal of its architect, Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Despite this, Ukrainian drone attacks persist, regularly grounding airports across the country. Aviation authorities recorded 114 suspensions from June 28 to July 28, with 17 of those happening at Moscow's four airports alone.

The Association of Tour Operators documented over 290 incidents in the first quarter of 2026. Russian authorities have claimed to have shot down 791 Ukrainian drones in a single night, though Moscow's mayor estimates over 600 were headed towards the capital. Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine had no involvement in the Nord Stream sabotage, acknowledging that two Ukrainians remain in German custody.