Ukraine Urges ICAO to Ban Civilian Flights over Russia as Moscow Dismisses Safety Warnings
The UN aviation agency urged members to protect civilian aircraft as drone activity, signal interference and air-defense systems raise risks over Russia.
- On Sept 2, Ukraine formally told the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace is "not safe" for civilian flights due to intensified military activity and drone operations.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned on Sept 1 that Russian skies were becoming "extremely dangerous" because of Kyiv's drones, which have repeatedly caused airport closures.
- Previous Ukrainian attacks disrupted Moscow airports significantly: more than 450 flights delayed in May 2026 with Vnukovo restrictions lasting nearly 18 hours, and 171 cancellations at Sheremetyevo in July 2025.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin called the warning "a bid for state terrorism," while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha urged airlines to avoid Russian airspace, invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter.
- While ICAO cannot close Russian airspace, it reiterated calls for member states to protect civilian aircraft from conflict zone risks; European airlines already avoid the area, though carriers from China and the Gulf continue operations.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Ukraine urges ICAO to ban civilian flights over Russia as Moscow dismisses safety warnings
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday warned airlines and insurers of growing dangers to flights over Russia due to the increased activity of Ukrainian drones. Zelensky issued a direct warning to every airline still using Russian airspace, saying that the skies over the "aggressor country" have become "completely unsafe." Zelensky stressed that Ukraine has no intention of targeting civilian aircraft. The president added that Kyiv does…
Ukrainian President Selenskyy had announced increased military activities in Russian airspace, and the international civil aviation organisation is now calling for the protection of civilian aircraft.
Welcome to this live on Thursday, September 3rd dedicated to the current situation of the conflict in Ukraine.
The UN Civil Aviation Organization has called on airlines to strengthen the protection of passenger aircraft. The Ukrainian President had warned against incidents in Russian airspace.
The United Nations (UN) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on Wednesday urged its members to ensure the safety of civil aircraft.
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