Media: Flight cancellations rise in Russia after Zelensky's drone warning
Independent outlet Novaya Gazeta Europa reports a notable increase in cancelled flights at Russia's five largest airports following President Volodymyr Zelensky's warning that Russian airspace would become entirely unsafe due to Ukrainian drones.
An analysis by the Riga-based independent Russian-language outlet Novaya Gazeta Europa has found that the number of cancelled flights at Russia's five largest airports rose significantly following a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky had warned that Russian airspace would become completely unsafe due to the growing number of Ukrainian drones being deployed. According to the outlet's analysis, airlines and airports began cancelling flights more frequently after this statement compared to the preceding period.
Background
Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory have become more frequent in recent times, regularly disrupting civilian aviation. Russian authorities have repeatedly closed airspace over individual cities and regions for security reasons, causing disruptions to both domestic and international flights.
Novaya Gazeta Europa is an outlet that continues operating outside Russia after its activities within the country were restricted. It closely follows the war's impact on everyday life in Russia, including the transport sector.
The source report does not provide specific figures on the scale of the cancellations, does not name the five airports in question, and does not specify the exact time period covered by the analysis.
