Zelenskyy Threatens to Shut Air Traffic Over Russia With Drones

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has threatened to shut down Russian airspace with drones in response to Moscow's escalating missile attacks. "Russian airspace will effectively be closing," Zelenskyy posted on X late on Tuesday, adding that drones will fill Russia's skies on a scale that must be considered. This warning came after Russia's continuous bombing of Kyiv and the surrounding region for six nights straight, exacerbating Ukraine's shortage of US-made Patriot air defense missiles.

The daily air raid alarms have disrupted daily life. Zelenskyy clarified that Ukraine will not target civilian aircraft, but warned airlines, insurers, and others utilizing Russian airspace and major airports that flying there is becoming increasingly hazardous. Ukraine has been unable to maintain civilian air traffic since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion over four and a half years ago.

Russia, in contrast, continues to conduct both domestic and some international flights, which are crucial given the country's vast size spanning 11 time zones. The drone campaign would build upon Kyiv's attempts to wage war on Russia by striking refineries, ports, and the recent warehouses of major online retailers. Zelenskyy acknowledged that his country's partners are planning new talks in Moscow, and Ukraine is willing to clear parts of the Russian sky of drones temporarily to facilitate peace negotiations, if requested by allies.

Ukraine honored a US request to cease strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg in late August to allow CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit. Kyiv also suspended attacks around Vladivostok in Russia's Far East at another nation's request, though the specific country was not disclosed. US-brokered peace talks with Russia have failed to yield any tangible results since President Donald Trump returned to the White House with a promise to end the fighting.

Instead, both sides have intensified aerial attacks, targeting each other's energy infrastructure and logistics networks. Zelenskyy claimed he had a detailed and constructive conversation with US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are now discussing "locking in dates" for their visit to Kyiv.