By AZE.US
Ukraine has formally asked the International Civil Aviation Organization to support a complete ban on civilian flights over Russian territory, citing growing risks from long-range drones and military activity.
Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Nikolay Kalashnik sent the appeal to ICAO Council President Juan Carlos Salazar. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had officially notified the organization that Russian airspace was becoming unsafe for civilian aviation.
President Volodymyr Zelensky also warned airlines and insurers that the growing use of drones was increasing the risks to passenger aircraft operating over Russia. He said Ukrainian forces were targeting military facilities and did not intend to deliberately threaten civilian aviation.
Russia rejected Kyiv’s assessment. Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin said Russian authorities were working with the Defense Ministry and security agencies to prevent serious disruption to civilian flights.
The latest development is that ICAO has not imposed a ban. In a statement issued on September 2, the UN aviation agency called on all states to protect civilian aircraft from conflict-related risks, rapidly share intelligence and conduct proper assessments of the airspace under their control.
ICAO specifically cited long-range weapons, unmanned aircraft, GPS interference and advanced air-defense systems as threats to civil aviation. It also reaffirmed that international aviation rules prohibit the use of weapons against civilian aircraft.
The issue carries particular significance for Azerbaijan. In December 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger aircraft flying toward Grozny crashed near Aktau after its route was altered. Thirty-eight people died.
Russian President Vladimir Putin later acknowledged that two Russian air-defense missiles had exploded near the aircraft during a Ukrainian drone attack.
Any ICAO decision could affect airline schedules, insurance costs and flight routes between Azerbaijan, Russia and other regional destinations. For now, however, Ukraine’s appeal remains a political and safety request – not an international flight ban.
AZE.US