Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Russia attacks Ukraine's airspace warning to UN aviation body
Moscow has condemned Kyiv's alert to international airlines about safety risks in Russian airspace, calling the warning illegal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had cautioned carriers that Russian skies posed significant dangers due to military activity.
LSN Malaysia ·
Russia has formally protested Ukraine's decision to notify the United Nations aviation agency about hazards facing commercial aircraft over Russian territory, characterizing the move as an unauthorised breach of international protocol.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued the warning to global airlines this week, stating that Russian airspace would be "completely unsafe" and subject to strikes by Ukrainian drones and other military operations. The advisory was communicated through official channels to international aviation bodies monitoring flight safety.
Moscow's objection centres on what it describes as an illegal circumvention of proper diplomatic channels and claims the warning misrepresents conditions in Russian airspace. The dispute underscores escalating tensions over aviation safety in the region, with both nations accusing each other of creating dangerous conditions.
The incident reflects broader disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv over airspace control and safety protocols amid ongoing military operations. International aviation authorities have faced mounting pressure to clarify flight safety recommendations as the situation in Eastern Europe remains volatile.
The warning represents Ukraine's effort to alert airlines to operational risks, while Russia maintains such communications should follow established international procedures rather than unilateral declarations.