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🇱🇹 Lithuania /Conflict & Security

Luxury Jets Replaced by Trains: A Bleak Scenario for Russia’s Elite

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that drones would appear in Russian skies often enough to disrupt major aviation routes, while saying Ukraine did not threaten civilian aviation.
  • Russian officials called the warning a promise of “state terrorism,” but nearly 80 flights had reportedly been delayed or canceled at Moscow airports after Zelenskyy’s statement.
  • Analysts said a sustained airspace disruption could ground government aircraft and the private jets used by Russia’s wealthy elite, while Dmitry Medvedev threatened strikes on German defense factories.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s warning that Russian skies were becoming “completely unsafe” quickly acquired a concrete meaning: Pegasus Airlines turned back planes heading for Moscow, Turkish Airlines canceled several flights, and nearly 80 services at Moscow airports were delayed or canceled, according to The Moscow Times.

Zelenskyy said drones would appear in Russian skies so frequently that people would have to pay attention. He stressed that Ukraine was not threatening civilian aviation, but said a possible airspace closure would first affect Moscow, St. Petersburg and other major flight destinations.

Drones will appear in Russian skies so frequently that this will have to be taken into account.

· Volodymyr ZelenskyyZelenskyy warned that drone activity could disrupt major Russian flight routes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin described Zelenskyy’s words as a promise to “carry out state terrorism.” Russia’s Transport Ministry said aviation authorities would not allow civil aviation to remain disrupted for a “significant period.” At the same time, pro-war voices inside Russia grew increasingly angry that Moscow had not struck Ukrainian decision-making centers.

Carry out state terrorism.

· Vladimir PutinPutin described Zelenskyy’s warning about Russian airspace as a promise to conduct state terrorism.

Putin recently explained that Russia needed people with whom it could negotiate if they chose a peaceful settlement rather than trying to destroy the Russian economy, bring Russia to its knees and deliver another strategic blow. That answer also angered pro-war supporters.

The possible impact on Russia’s elite was discussed by political analyst Ivan Preobrazhensky and security expert Ivan Stupak on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s “Face the Event” program. Stupak said a successful Ukrainian campaign could ground the planes of the special Rossiya flight squadron, which carries senior Russian officials inside the country and abroad, including to Cuba, North Korea and Iran. Business aviation would also be stranded, including private Bombardier aircraft costing about 60 million euros. “A new fashion would probably emerge: buying a private train,” Stupak said.

A new fashion would probably emerge: buying a private train.

· Ivan StupakThe security expert described how a prolonged airspace disruption could affect Russia’s elite.

Meanwhile, Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev threatened strikes on German factories producing military equipment for Ukraine. One commentator said Russia increasingly acts like a cornered nuclear-armed figure shouting that it will destroy everything, comparing the threats to the repeated cry of “wolf.”

We need some negotiators.

· Vladimir PutinPutin explained why Russia had avoided striking Ukrainian decision-making centers.
About this summary

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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