Ukraine Closes Its Airspace To Russia: The Kremlin Is Unable To Respond In Kind

• 5.09.2026, 8:44

The Russian economy is facing massive losses.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the skies over Russia have become completely dangerous. In effect, this is a warning to all airlines currently using Russian airports, as well as those flying over Russian territory in transit, including Chinese carriers. Time will tell whether Russian airports can be completely shut down, but it is already clear that the aggressor country faces enormous losses.

Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin has already threatened Ukraine with retaliatory measures, but he is unable to respond in kind, since the skies over Ukraine have been closed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Nevertheless, a dangerous hybrid strike is possible.

This view was expressed in an exclusive interview OBOZ.UA by military expert Vladislav Seleznev.

– President Zelenskyy made a landmark statement that “Russian airspace is becoming completely dangerous.” In your opinion, what does this mean from a purely practical standpoint?

– I think this means that the Ukrainian side is explicitly stating: we will conduct operations as part of the “deep strikes” and “middle strikes” concept, aimed at destroying enemy military and economic infrastructure—in order to avoid creating the preconditions and conditions that could endanger civilian air travel.

The fact is that Operation “Carpet,” involving the closure of civilian airports in the European part of the Russian Federation, has already become something of a routine occurrence, as such incidents occur very frequently in various regions of Russia whenever Ukrainian drones attack Russian military and economic targets. I think that here President Zelenskyy reiterated a point that is obvious to everyone.


The associated collateral risks stemming from Ukrainian drone operations are very real. It is clear that none of these attacks are deliberately aimed at aircraft, let alone those of third countries, but such risks are very real, as Russian air defense systems do not always protect everyone and everything. Very often, Ukrainian drones damaged by fire from Russian air defense systems or the enemy’s electronic warfare systems crash into targets other than those intended by the Ukrainian army. President Zelenskyy is referring to these risks.

To a certain extent, Ukraine’s mirroring of this situation is, in my view, obvious, since as of February 24, 2022, air traffic into Ukrainian territory has been completely suspended. The skies over our country’s territory are closed. If there is a Russian-Ukrainian war, then why is the airspace over the territory of the Russian Federation—the aggressor state—still open?


There must be parity in these processes, and it stems from the very logic of war. Although the Russians call it a “special military operation,” it is obvious that all the characteristics and criteria that fit the definition of war fully apply to the conflict in Ukraine.

– What do you think the president might have meant? Is he referring only to the Ukrainian drones you’ve already mentioned, or also to other weapons that may enter service with Ukraine in the near future?

– It’s unlikely that he meant long-range air defense systems could be used to attack civilian aircraft landing at Russian airports. We are not at war with civilians. Unlike the Russian terrorist army, we carry out missions aimed at destroying military and economic capabilities.

And there are certain risks involved here. It is quite likely that Russia could exploit Zelenskyy’s statement to create conditions for a false-flag operation. For example, it could launch a drone strike against a hypothetical Turkish Airlines plane and claim: “Zelenskyy said it would happen—and now it has.”

The current Russian-Ukrainian war is, first and foremost, a hybrid operation being waged by the Russian Federation. This process has been ongoing since February 2014, beginning with the events in Crimea and Sevastopol. Such risks certainly exist, which is why open communication with the international community and world leaders is extremely important—and it was precisely to them that Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed through representatives of embassies located in Kyiv, as well as embassies located in Moscow.

In fact, the logic behind these remarks is obvious. It is aimed at creating a backdrop of information. As a state that is a victim of Russian aggression, we have the right to use the full arsenal of forces and means available to us to stop this unprovoked hostile aggression.

And under these circumstances, strikes on the territory of the Russian Federation may, of course, entail corresponding risks for aircraft, including those from third countries. This is precisely what President Zelenskyy is referring to.

– Do you think it’s possible that those same third countries, whose aircraft are currently landing at airports in the European part of Russia, might take President Zelenskyy’s statement into account and leave Russia?

– Obviously. I want to point out that it’s not just aircraft flying into Russian airports located near Moscow or St. Petersburg. The airspace of the Russian Federation is also used for transit flights. First and foremost, it is used by Chinese airlines, as well as European and American carriers. But who knows at what altitude a Ukrainian missile or drone might fly, which could lead to a catastrophe of epic proportions.

Therefore, President Zelenskyy’s statement reflects the reality that, as time goes on, the Ukrainian army will increasingly deploy forces and resources as part of its strategic concept, including “deep strikes”—that is, strikes deep into Russian territory.

It is clear that this signal is directed not only at the operators of airlines flying to Moscow or other Russian cities, but also at those airlines that use Russian airspace as part of their flight routes.

– One last question—regarding Putin’s reaction to President Zelenskyy’s statement. He has already called this statement “a declaration of state terrorism” and promised, “We will find a way to respond.” But how, exactly, can they respond? They’ve already used everything against Ukraine except nuclear weapons.

– Putin said this because he had to respond in some way to President Zelenskyy’s statement. It’s obvious that the Russian Federation can no longer respond in kind, because all airports on Ukrainian territory have been closed since February 2022. Therefore, Putin is unable to attack our civil aviation infrastructure—by definition, it isn’t operational.

Are there any scenarios involving an escalation of this situation? It’s entirely possible. But I think we should still recall the original source of this concept. We do remember, after all, where this idea it all started. Back in the day, former Defense Minister Mr. Fedorov proposed implementing a plan to completely block airports in the capital region of the Russian Federation. It’s quite likely that this is a reincarnation of those previously developed plans.

Only time will tell what will come of this. This is because carrying out operations to block air traffic in the European part of the Russian Federation requires a huge amount of logistical resources—first and foremost, drones. On the other hand, let’s consider the unchecked terrorist-style actions that the Russian Federation is currently carrying out against the Ukrainian capital region, where an endless air raid alert has been in effect for six consecutive days, and even as we speak, another air raid alert has just come through on my phone.

Therefore, it is obvious that the Ukrainian army’s and the Ukrainian state’s reciprocal actions are entirely logical. We did not start this war, but we must end it with our own victory. And to achieve that, all forces and means are acceptable.