Zelenskyy warns drones will close Russian airspace as Putin vows response to ‘state terrorism’

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia’s skies will no longer be safe as Ukraine prepares a drone campaign on a scale large enough to disrupt air traffic across the country. In a speech on Sept. 1, the Ukrainian president said, “There will be a number of drones in the Russian sky that must be taken into account,” adding that “Russian airspace will effectively be closed.”

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There will be a number of drones in the Russian sky that must be taken into account.

Zelenskyy warned airlines flying to and from Russia, as well as insurers and passengers using Russian airports. “Russian airspace is now never safe,” he said. He had previously said Ukraine could deploy as many as 1,000 long-range drones a day. The campaign is understood as an effort to strike Russian refineries, ports and military-industrial facilities, raise the cost of the war and pressure Moscow back to negotiations.

He stressed that Ukraine was not targeting civilian aviation or individual aircraft and said he did not want civilian casualties. “The war started by Russia is now closing their skies,” Zelenskyy said, arguing that Russia’s missiles and drones had first crossed into Ukraine through Russian airspace. He also instructed Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry and relevant agencies to notify international organizations about the risks over Russia.

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Russian airspace will effectively be closed.

Putin, speaking to reporters in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, called Zelenskyy’s comments “state terrorism” and said Russia would respond. Putin said Ukraine was asking to resume peace talks and hold a face-to-face leaders’ meeting, but added, “We do not negotiate with terrorists.” He said U.S.-mediated talks had stopped, while indicating that Russia would welcome an envoy sent by President Donald Trump.

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The war started by Russia is now closing their skies.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said it had attacked a Novatek refinery at the Ust-Luga port in western Russia, which is connected to the Baltic Sea. Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian refining and oil-storage facilities since May, with gasoline shortages reported in some Russian regions. Russia also carried out airstrikes around a combined heat and power plant, port infrastructure and a border checkpoint near Odesa in southern Ukraine.

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We do not negotiate with terrorists.