Ukraine Seeks to Close Russian Airspace, and the Strategy Is Already Paying Off

Ukraine wants to turn Russia’s temporary airport closures into a permanent paralysis of civilian air travel across the country’s European regions. Ukrainian officials say the plan is to increase drone activity near Russian airports, adding economic pressure on Moscow as it seeks to force an end to the war.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines on Tuesday that Russian airspace was “becoming completely unsafe.” The warning reflects a broader strategy, according to Ukrainian officials, to keep enough drones near airports that air traffic controllers would have to halt takeoffs and landings more often and for longer periods.

Serhiy Bratchuk, a representative of Ukraine’s Southern Command, described the change to The Wall Street Journal as “a transition to constant pressure aimed at paralyzing civil air traffic in the European part of the Russian Federation.” Ukraine has promised not to attack passenger aircraft, but plans to expand Operation Carpet, in which drones near Russian airports force controllers to suspend flights.

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becoming completely unsafe

The pressure is already affecting aviation. About 16,000 Ukrainian drones crossed Russian airspace in August, a record according to aviation security company Osprey Flight Solutions. Aviation experts cited by the Journal said the drone volume and the activity of Russian air defenses create growing risks for civilian aircraft. They also warned that extensive GPS spoofing, used to divert drones, could disorient civilian aviation.

Russia temporarily closed an average of 32 airports each day in August, including airports around Moscow and St. Petersburg. Airlines have begun adjusting operations. El Al suspended flights between Tel Aviv and Moscow in late June because of drone threats. Air India changed its last route over Russia in April, adding a refueling stop in Seoul on San Francisco to Delhi flights. Pegasus canceled several flights to Russia after Zelenskyy’s comments, citing technical and operational reasons, while other airlines use private security firms to select safer routes, altitudes and flight times.

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a transition to constant pressure aimed at paralyzing civil air traffic in the European part of the Russian Federation