Zelensky warns airlines Russian airspace unsafe due to Ukraine drones

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a warning on Tuesday that the country’s drone operations would render Russian airspace “completely unsafe” for the duration of the war. In a statement to FRANCE 24, Zelensky said the message was directed at international airlines—particularly those from the Middle East, Southeast Asia and China—that continue to fly into Moscow. The warning follows a broader campaign of information warfare aimed at shaping perceptions among the Russian populace.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin responded by accusing Ukraine of “state terrorism,” a charge that underscores the escalating rhetoric between the two sides. Former British military intelligence officer Philip Ingram, speaking on the same FRANCE 24 program, explained that Zelensky’s caution is part of a strategic effort to highlight the conflict’s reach and to influence the behavior of foreign carriers operating within Russian airspace. The statement reflects the heightened security concerns that have accompanied the ongoing hostilities.