Russia pledges to protect civil aviation despite Ukrainian drone operations

Russia said it would prevent any disruption to civil aviation after Ukraine's president warned that Ukrainian drones operating over Russian territory have made its airspace unsafe for civilian use.

By Middle East Affairs
September 2, 2026
1 min read
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Russia said on Wednesday it would prevent any disruption to civil aviation, responding to a warning from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Ukrainian drone operations over Russian territory had made its airspace dangerous for civilian aircraft.

Zelenskiy cautioned airlines and insurance companies on Tuesday that the presence of Ukrainian drones responding to Russian attacks meant "the war started by Russia is closing its own skies." He said Ukraine was not deliberately targeting civil aviation.