Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia’s airspace is becoming increasingly unsafe for commercial airlines due to the rising scale of Ukrainian drone operations targeting Russian territory. In a statement issued ahead of winter, Zelenskyy cautioned airlines, insurers, and operators using Russian airports that the presence of Ukrainian drones over Russia must be taken into account by the aviation sector. He emphasized that Ukraine does not intend to threaten civilian aircraft directly but highlighted the growing military activity as a significant risk factor for civil aviation.
Ukraine’s foreign secretary, Andrii Sybiha, confirmed that Kyiv formally notified the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) about the increased dangers posed to civilian flights in Russian airspace amid ongoing military operations. Since the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022, Ukraine’s commercial airspace has remained closed due to persistent security threats, with Moscow conducting strikes across various regions of Ukraine.
Over recent months, Ukraine has expanded its drone strike capabilities, reportedly launching several hundred attacks daily and aiming to increase that number to around 1,000. These strikes have reached locations deep inside Russia, including near Moscow and St Petersburg, targeting military, industrial, and energy infrastructure. Analysts suggest that Ukraine may use surprise drone attacks to intermittently disrupt operations at Russian airports, though a permanent closure would be challenging due to air defense responses.
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded by condemning Zelenskyy’s remarks as “state terrorism” and dismissed any negotiations with Ukraine as impossible under these conditions. During a news conference following a summit in Kyrgyzstan, Putin indicated that Russian forces were preparing to intensify strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in anticipation of winter, aiming to degrade heating and electricity supplies, although he stopped short of claiming an economic collapse in Ukraine. Putin acknowledged damage to Russian civilian facilities caused by Ukrainian strikes and accused Kyiv of benefiting from foreign-made weapons, including British drones used in some long-range attacks.
Putin also claimed Russian forces had made territorial gains, such as capturing the town of Sviatohirsk in Donetsk, a claim disputed by Ukrainian monitoring groups and some Russian commentators. Despite a slow battlefield advance that has fueled speculation of a new Russian military mobilization, Putin dismissed the likelihood of further conscription, calling such suggestions “nonsense.”
The renewed drone bombardment comes amid a surge of Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and surrounding areas, leading to civilian casualties and damage to residential and educational buildings. Zelenskyy lamented what he described as insufficient international response to Moscow’s intensified strikes and called on ICAO to encourage member states to ban civilian flights over Russia entirely to safeguard air travel.
Diplomatic efforts, largely led by the United States and involving various envoys, remain stalled. Despite some engagement with Russia, including recent interactions involving U.S. intelligence officials and former political envoys, peace negotiations have been described as “currently frozen.” The escalating drone warfare and reciprocal strikes highlight the continuing volatility and complexity of the conflict as it enters its fifth year.