Zelenskyy warns Russian airspace unsafe as Putin escalates strikes on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared Wednesday that Russian airspace is becoming unsafe for commercial airlines, warning carriers and insurers amid escalating military activity in the Russia-Ukraine war. Zelenskyy said Ukraine does not intend to threaten civilian flights directly, but the growing number of attack drones flown into Russia must be considered by the aviation industry. Ukraine's Foreign Secretary Andrii Sybiha notified the International Civil Aviation Organisation that Russian airspace is unsafe due to increased military operations. Ukraine's strikes have recently targeted sites near Moscow and St Petersburg, including oil refineries and military installations over 2,000km from its border. Russian President Vladimir Putin called Zelenskyy's remarks "state terrorism" and ordered mass strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities this winter to disrupt heating and electricity supplies.