Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed international airlines and insurance companies that use Russian airspace. According to him, "Russian skies are becoming fully dangerous" due to the massive presence of drones, which, he claimed, will operate in Russian airspace without proper warnings from Russian authorities. The statement was made on September 1, 2026, and was relayed through RBC-Ukraine.

Address to Airlines and Insurers

In the statement, the head of state emphasized that Ukraine "does not threaten civil aviation as such — not a single civilian aircraft." However, he said, drones in the Russian sky will be present on such a scale that all participants in the aviation market must take this into account. Zelensky pointed out that Russian authorities do not report on this "as they should," and that de facto the sky over Russia is being closed: "the war started by Russia is closing its sky." The president added that Ukraine does not want the loss of innocent lives, so all partners must bear in mind that in the Russian sky "the safe moments are over."

Diplomatic Channel and the Role of Embassies

Zelensky called on the ambassadors of all states working in Ukraine and in Moscow to convey this information to their capitals. He noted that every diplomat "knows exactly what the Russian war means for our country, for our people," and that it is precisely they who are obliged to pass this data on to their capitals. The president also stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the relevant institutions will provide full information to international bodies about the dangers in the Russian sky. He paid particular attention to airlines operating flights to airports in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and other key Russian destinations.

"There Is No Place for Civil Aviation Among Drones"

Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is a "country of peace" and reminded that Kyiv had observed pauses and refrained from striking Russia when partners asked it to. At the same time, he stated that safety in the Russian sky will return only when "genuine movement toward peace" begins. "The sky over Russia is now for drones. Not for civil aviation. While the war is going on," the president summarized. The formulation "there is no place for civil aviation among drones" became the key thesis of the entire address.

Contradictory Data

Zelensky's statement contains a direct and repeated assertion that Ukraine does not threaten civil aviation or any civilian aircraft. However, media previously reported that in early 2026 Ukrainian officials allegedly offered the president a plan to attack Moscow airports with drones, providing for the launch of up to 1,000 autonomous drones per day at Moscow airports and their surroundings. According to these publications, the plan was suspended. Thus, a question arises as to how consistently the formulation "we do not threaten civil aviation" aligns with previously known plans to strike airport infrastructure, which is an integral part of the civil aviation system. Neither side has provided an official comment on this discrepancy.

Context: Air Traffic and Insurance Risks

The statement was made against the backdrop of the fact that approximately 170 flights per week are operated from Kazakhstan to Russia, making the issue of airspace safety relevant not only for Western carriers but also for Central Asian countries. For insurance companies covering the risks of flights to Russian airports, such an address by the Ukrainian president may become grounds for reviewing policy terms and assessing risks. International aviation bodies traditionally rely on official NOTAM notifications and ICAO communications; however, Zelensky directly pointed out that Russian authorities do not provide the necessary information about the presence of drones in the airspace, which renders standard alerting mechanisms ineffective.