'Russian airspace is not safe': Ukraine warns ICAO over attacks on Russia
Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (x.com/andrii_sybiha)
Ukraine has issued an official warning to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) about the closure of Russian airspace. Flying to Russia has become dangerous, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Ukraine officially notifies ICAO
Sybiha said that Russian airspace is dangerous for civil aviation due to increased military activity.
"We urge everyone to avoid it," he wrote on X.
According to the minister, Russia is deliberately ignoring the existing risks as a result of its aggression against Ukraine. This has already led to several incidents in recent years.
"Against the backdrop of Russia’s drastic escalation of terror against Ukraine, Russian airspace is becoming increasingly unsafe," Sybiha said.
Therefore, Ukraine has issued safety warnings to:
- ICAO;
- all airlines;
- governments.
"Even if Russia refuses to fulfill its responsibility to inform them. We want to prevent unintended incidents," Sybiha added.
The minister said that the war is returning "home to Russia." Ukraine is exercising its inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Updated at 16:37
According to an RBC-Ukraine correspondent, an informed government source was asked whether Russia could somehow use Ukraine’s announcement about closing its airspace for provocations.
"That is precisely why we are making this announcement - so that civilian aircraft stay out of that airspace. Different airlines are still flying there for now. We will see how the situation develops," he said.
"Ukraine is warning all of its partners. We are stating that there is no safe airspace in Russia," a source told RBC-Ukraine.
Ukraine is closing Russian airspace
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that on September 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed all airlines that use Russian airspace, as well as insurers that work with key Russian airports.
He said that "Russian skies are becoming completely unsafe" and open to Ukrainian drones.
It was also reported that Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said Ukraine would respond to Russia’s air terror proportionately and forcefully. From now on, Russian airspace will no longer be safe.
In addition, Russian leader Vladimir Putin called Zelenskyy’s statement about closing the skies over Russia "a bid for state terrorism."
