Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines and their insurers on Tuesday that Russian airspace is “becoming completely unsafe.” Ukraine plans to escalate its drone attacks to disrupt Russian airports and force their closure. This move aims to destabilize the Russian economy and pressure Moscow to end the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin described Zelenskyy's warning as a “declaration of terrorism,” adding, “If they really do this, we will see how best to respond. We will find the appropriate means.” Data shows that the number of temporary closures of Russian airports has gradually increased since the start of the conflict, surging in recent months. According to flight tracking company Flightradar24, since September 1, Russian and domestic airlines have canceled an average of 86 flights per day. Data tracked by aviation safety company Osprey Flight Solutions shows that in August, approximately 16,000 Ukrainian drones crossed the border into Russian airspace open to civilian aircraft, a new peak.
