Russian Airspace 'Completely Unsafe', Zelensky Warns Global Airlines

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KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned global airlines and insurers that Russian airspace is becoming ‘completely unsafe’ due to the expanding scale of Ukrainian drone operations.

Clarifying that Ukraine does not target civilian aircraft, Zelensky declared that ‘drone-infested skies’ are no place for civil aviation while the war continues.

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the statement, branding Zelensky’s comments ‘a declaration of state terrorism". Denouncing the warning, Putin declared that Moscow would not negotiate with terrorists, further stalling diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

The escalation comes amid intensifying long-range attacks from both sides. Putin acknowledged that recent Ukrainian drone strikes damaged civilian infrastructure inside Russia, including oil refineries, attributing the damage to a lack of protection.

Meanwhile, Russia has escalated its own strikes, with recent missile and drone attacks killing at least 12 people in and around Kyiv. Zelensky noted Ukraine remains willing to temporarily clear drones from Russian skies if requested by partners for the sake of diplomatic negotiations.