Putin vows response to Zelensky’s call for closed Russian airspace
Russian leader Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Russian leader Vladimir Putin called Zelenskyy’s statement about closing the sky over Russia a "bid for state terrorism," stating that Moscow does not negotiate with terrorists, according to Putin’s press conference held after the SCO summit.
"If this is said aloud, it is a bid for state terrorism. We do not negotiate with terrorists," Putin said, commenting on Zelenskyy’s statement regarding closing the sky over Russia.
According to the Russian leader, Russia will find a way to respond to such statements.
Putin also reported that the Russian Armed Forces have been instructed to prepare and launch massive strikes on Ukraine’s energy sector:
"They are hitting our facilities; they will get a response," the leader said.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is beginning to close the sky over Russia - the Russian airspace, in his words, is becoming dangerous for civil aviation due to the massive presence of drones. At the same time, the president emphasized that Kyiv is not threatening civil aviation, but merely warning international airlines and insurers about the need to take these risks into account.
Media outlets previously reported that earlier this year, Ukrainian officials allegedly proposed to Zelenskyy attacking Moscow airports with drones, but the plan was suspended. It envisaged launching up to 1,000 drones per day at airports in Moscow and its surroundings - cheap autonomous drones were supposed to independently find and hit targets without operator involvement.
