4 hrs ago
Russia Vows Civil Aviation Safety Amid Ukraine Drone Warning
Ukraine uses drones while responding to Russian attacks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned airlines and insurance companies that flying over Russia could be dangerous.
He said Ukraine was not trying to attack civil aviation.
Russia said it was working to keep airports and flights safe.
Russia’s transport minister said major disruption would be avoided.
Some flights at Moscow airports were delayed or cancelled.
Airlines said they were watching the changing situation and adjusting schedules.
Ukraine also formally told the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace was unsafe.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned that Russian airspace had become dangerous because of Ukrainian drone operations.
Russia’s transport minister Andrei Nikitin said authorities would prevent significant disruption to civil aviation.
Flightradar24 reported cancellations and delays at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports.
flydubai and Pegasus Airlines adjusted or cancelled some flights, citing operational or technical reasons.
Ukraine notified the International Civil Aviation Organization that it considered Russian airspace unsafe, while Russia continued attacks on Kyiv.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Russian Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin, along with airlines operating in or over Russia.
- What
- Ukraine warned that Russian airspace was unsafe because of drone activity, while Russia pledged to protect civil aviation from major disruption.
- Where
- Russian airspace, with reported flight disruptions at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports; Ukraine also notified the International Civil Aviation Organization.
- When
- Wednesday, following Zelenskiy’s warning on Tuesday; the report is dated Sept. 2.
- Why
- Ukraine said drone operations and Russian attacks had made the airspace dangerous; Russia said it was coordinating security measures to maintain aviation operations.
Ukraine’s Safety Warning
Russia’s Safety Assurance
Risk to civil aviation
Ukraine’s Safety Warning
Ukraine said Russian airspace had become unsafe because Ukrainian drones were operating in response to Russian attacks, while Zelenskiy said civil aviation was not being targeted.
Russia’s Safety Assurance
Russia said it was improving flight safety and airport security and would not allow significant disruption to civil aviation.
Flight operations
Ukraine’s Safety Warning
Ukraine’s warning was supported by reports of cancellations and delays at Moscow airports and by airlines adjusting routes and schedules.
Russia’s Safety Assurance
Russia maintained that security measures and coordination with the Defence Ministry and Russian National Guard could manage the situation.
Extent of the threat
Ukraine’s Safety Warning
Aviation risk advisers warned that drone and missile attacks could continue deeper inside Russia, including near Moscow and St Petersburg.
Russia’s Safety Assurance
Russia’s public position was that aviation operations could continue without major disruption despite the changing security situation.
Key facts
- Russian transport minister
- Andrei Nikitin said Russia had solutions to improve flight safety and airport security.
- Sheremetyevo airport
- Flightradar24 reported 21 cancellations and 235 delays.
- Vnukovo airport
- Flightradar24 reported 22 cancellations and 94 delays.
- Pegasus Airlines
- The Turkish carrier cancelled some Russia flights for stated technical and operational reasons.
- flydubai
- The airline said it was monitoring the situation and adjusting schedules and routings as necessary.
- International notification
- Ukraine officially notified the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace was unsafe.
- Airspace users
- Airlines from countries including China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states continue to use Russian airspace.
Quotes
Volodymyr Zelenskiy
President of Ukraine
“We are working in close contact with the Ministry of Defence and the Russian National Guard. And I believe that we will not allow any significant disruption to civil aviation.”
theprint.in
“We are constantly improving flight safety and airport security requirements, and we have solutions for all of this.”
theprint.in
Sources
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