Zelensky: Some airlines have already begun cancelling flights to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his Wednesday evening address that following Kyiv's warning about drone-related dangers in Russian airspace, several international airlines have already begun refusing to operate flights to Russian airports. He called this a logical response to the situation created by the war, which Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to end. Zelensky said Ukraine has already officially informed international organizations and partners about the real situation in Russian airspace. He had announced on the evening of September 1 that Ukraine intended to intensify its strikes to the point of effectively blocking Russian airspace.

ICAO calls for protecting airliners

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN body with 193 member states, called on all countries to take on firmer commitments to protect civilian aircraft from risks linked to conflict zones, following Ukraine's statement. The organization did not directly name Russia or Ukraine but pointed to a growing global threat of weapons being used against civilian aircraft, citing drones, long-range weapons, air defense systems and devices that jam navigation signals. ICAO urged states to share threat information promptly and improve coordination between military and civilian authorities to prevent civilian aircraft from being mistakenly identified as military targets. Shortly before the statement, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had informed ICAO that Russian airspace had become unsafe due to intensified military activity, urging everyone to avoid it.

Patriot missile licensing and strike on Odesa

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with Fox News that talks with Ukraine on licensing production of Patriot interceptor missiles are ongoing but will not solve Kyiv's short-term problem, since even with a license, building the necessary factories would take years. He said interceptor missiles have become the world's top defense priority, though availability remains limited partly due to America's own needs. Overnight into September 3, Russian forces struck Odesa, damaging a multi-story apartment building. According to Serhii Lysak, head of the Odesa city administration, eight people were injured in the attack.