In his evening video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned airlines using Russian airspace and their insurers that Russian skies are becoming "completely unsafe," saying drones will appear in a way that must be taken into account.
"Ukraine does not threaten civil aviation as such — not a single civilian aircraft. It's just that drones in Russian skies will appear in such a way that this must be taken into account. Although the Russian authorities do not report this properly, Russian airspace will de facto be closing," Zelensky said.
Zelensky called on ambassadors of states working in Ukraine and Moscow, as well as airlines flying to airports primarily in Moscow and St. Petersburg, to heed his statement. He promised that Ukraine's Foreign Ministry would provide international structures with full information about the dangers in Russian airspace.
In the address, Zelensky also said Ukraine is ready to pause strikes for diplomatic meetings, citing a precedent involving a visit by the CIA director to Moscow. "The war needs to end. And leaders are telling Putin this correctly. Therefore, for the sake of diplomacy, for the sake of negotiations, when partners approach us about this, we will ensure the clearing of Russian skies of drones for certain intervals and in certain directions," the Ukrainian leader said.
Earlier, on August 28, Zelensky said he had tasked Ukrainian forces with launching up to a thousand drones a day at Russia, according to Meduza.