Kremlin Downplays Threat as Zelenskyy Warns Russian Airspace Will 'Effectively Close'
Why It MattersSustained Russian airspace instability raises operational risk for carriers and insurers serving Moscow-area airports and could force further route suspensions across the region.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said in a nightly address that Russian airspace will "effectively be closing," even without a formal announcement from Russian authorities. Transportation Minister Andrei Nikitin responded on Wednesday, telling Interfax that civil aviation authorities are "constantly improving flight safety and airport security requirements" and that he does not expect "any significant disruption to civil aviation," citing coordination with military and defense personnel.
Tracking data from Flightradar24 showed Sheremetyevo airport recorded 21 canceled flights and 235 delays on Wednesday, while nearby Vnukovo airport reported 22 cancellations and nearly 100 delayed departures. Turkish carrier Pegasus Airlines suspended several flights into Moscow citing technical and operational difficulties, though some routes later resumed normal service.
Aviation risk firm Osprey Flight Solutions issued a security advisory stating the instability is unlikely to be short-lived, noting that daily attacks near Moscow and St. Petersburg are likely to persist through 2026, with deep strikes so far concentrated within 300 kilometers of the border. The advisory also flagged a realistic possibility that strike frequency deep inside Russian territory could increase in the short term, and warned that misidentification is likely in areas tied to the conflict.
