Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Russia Vows to Limit Airspace Disruption After Ukraine Warning
Ukraine said Russian airspace had become dangerous because Ukrainian drones were responding to Russian attacks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine was not trying to hit passenger planes.
Ukraine also told an international aviation organization that Russian airspace was unsafe.
Russia said it was improving airport and flight security.
Russia’s transport minister promised that civil aviation would not face major disruption.
However, flight-tracking data showed many delays and cancellations at two Moscow airports.
Some airlines changed schedules or cancelled flights.
An aviation advisory firm said drone and missile attacks could continue deeper inside Russia, including near Moscow and St Petersburg.
Ukraine warned airlines and insurers that drone activity had made Russian airspace unsafe, while saying civil aviation was not being targeted.
Russia’s transport minister said authorities were improving flight and airport security and would prevent significant disruption.
Russia’s civil aviation authority rejected Ukraine’s notification to the International Civil Aviation Organization as legally invalid.
Flightradar24 reported 21 cancellations and 235 delays at Sheremetyevo, and 22 cancellations and 94 delays at Vnukovo.
Flydubai adjusted schedules and routings, while Pegasus Airlines cancelled some Russia flights for stated technical and operational reasons.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Russian Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin, Russia’s civil aviation authority and airlines operating to or over Russia.
- What
- Ukraine warned that Russian airspace was unsafe because of drone activity, while Russia pledged to maintain civil aviation operations and limit disruption.
- When
- Wednesday, Sept. 2, following Zelenskiy’s warning on Tuesday.
- Where
- Russian airspace, particularly around Moscow’s Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports; Ukraine also notified the International Civil Aviation Organization.
- Why
- Ukraine said Russian attacks and resulting drone operations had made the airspace dangerous; Russia said security measures could keep flights operating.
Ukraine’s Airspace Warning
Russia’s Civil Aviation Assurance
Safety of Russian airspace
Ukraine’s Airspace Warning
Ukraine said Russian airspace was unsafe because Ukrainian drones were operating in response to Russian attacks, while Zelenskiy said civil aviation was not being targeted.
Russia’s Civil Aviation Assurance
Russia said it was improving flight safety and airport security and could prevent significant disruption to civil aviation.
International aviation notification
Ukraine’s Airspace Warning
Ukraine said it had officially notified the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace was unsafe.
Russia’s Civil Aviation Assurance
Rosaviatsia said Ukraine’s approaches to international aviation bodies had no legal force and violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Evidence of disruption
Ukraine’s Airspace Warning
Flight cancellations and delays at Moscow airports, along with airline schedule changes, reflected the risks cited by Ukraine.
Russia’s Civil Aviation Assurance
Rosaviatsia said Russian air transport and ground infrastructure continued to operate according to plan, including foreign airline flights.
- Sheremetyevo airport
- Flightradar24 reported 21 cancelled flights and 235 delays.
- Vnukovo airport
- Flightradar24 reported 22 cancelled flights and 94 delays.
- Russia’s position
- Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin said Russia would not allow significant disruption to civil aviation.
- Ukraine’s notification
- Ukraine officially informed the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace was unsafe.
- Russia’s response
- Rosaviatsia said Ukraine’s approaches to international aviation bodies had no legal force and violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
- Airline changes
- Flydubai said it was adjusting schedules and routings; Pegasus Airlines cancelled some flights for technical and operational reasons.
- Risk outlook
- Osprey Flight Solutions said deeper strikes inside Russia, including near Moscow and St Petersburg, were likely to continue through 2026.