Ukraine Seeks De Facto Closure of Russian Airspace After 217 Airport Shutdowns
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · Sep 2
Ukraine Seeks De Facto Closure of Russian Airspace After 217 Airport Shutdowns
3 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · Sep 2
Summary
Some airlines have already begun refusing flights to Russian airports after Kyiv warned that expanded drone operations make Russian skies unsafe, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sept. 2.
Ukraine is scaling up a long-running tactic of flying drones near airports to trigger airspace restrictions rather than strike infrastructure, aiming for what officials called a strategic aviation blockade across central Russia.
That approach has already disrupted Russian aviation: Ukrainian drones forced at least 217 temporary airport closures in 2025, and raids before Russia's May 9 Victory Day affected at least 60,000 passengers.
Kyiv says the plan is meant to raise pressure on Russia as front lines stagnate and Moscow intensifies drone and missile attacks; Russia's response has been to denounce the move as terrorism while continuing strikes on Kyiv.