Zelensky warns airlines Russian skies not safe due to Ukraine drones

Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Tuesday that his country’s drones would make Russia’s airspace “completely unsafe” for the duration of the war, drawing accusations of “state terrorism” from Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Both sides have intensified long-range attacks in recent months and diplomatic efforts led by the United States remain stalled more than four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion.

“Today, we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer and everyone who still uses Russia’s key airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe,” Zelensky said in his nightly address.

“Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such – not a single civilian aircraft. There will simply be drones in Russia’s skies on a scale that has to be taken into account,” he said.

Air traffic at Russian airports has been repeatedly disrupted by the approach of Ukrainian drones, the number of which has increased in recent months.

“Drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation,” Zelensky said. “The sky over Russia is currently for drones… as long as the war continues.”

Putin responded by branding Zelensky’s comments “a declaration of state terrorism”.

“They are asking us to resume negotiations… but you don’t negotiate with terrorists,” Putin said in a televised news conference.

The hardening stances came after fresh Russian missile and drone strikes killed at least 12 people in Kyiv and the surrounding region.

“We in Ukraine do not want innocent lives to be lost. That is why we are warning our partners: the safe days in Russia’s skies are over,” Zelensky said.

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