Flights to Moscow turned back after Zelenskyy warning

Several Pegasus aircraft heading for Moscow were turned around in midair overnight after Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines that Russia’s airspace could become increasingly dangerous.

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The Turkish side is prohibiting departures.

The affected flights included services from Bodrum, Izmir and Antalya to Moscow. The airline reportedly canceled dozens more flights the following morning, including routes from Istanbul to Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as services from Antalya, Izmir and Dalaman to other Russian cities. Return flights from Russia were also canceled.

A Pegasus representative reportedly told passengers on one canceled flight that “the Turkish side is prohibiting departures” and that the company did not know how the situation would develop. Pegasus representatives in Russia could not say whether Moscow flights would resume or when the next services might operate.

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Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe.

The disruption extended beyond the Turkish carrier. Russian outlet Ostorozhno Novosti reported that about 80 flights were canceled or delayed at Moscow’s airports on Tuesday evening because of threats of drone attacks. Sheremetyevo recorded problems with 40 flights, Domodedovo with 20 and Vnukovo with 17.

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On a scale that must be taken into account.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Russian forces had shot down 130 Ukrainian drones overnight over 11 Russian regions, including the Moscow region, as well as Crimea. Zelenskyy said Ukraine did not intend to attack civilian aircraft, but warned that drones would appear over Russia “on a scale that must be taken into account.” Putin called the warning a form of “state terrorism” and said Russia would find a response.

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State terrorism.