Zelenskyy Warns Airlines as Ukraine Targets Russian Airspace

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned international airlines, insurers, and airport operators starting September 1, 2026, that Russian airspace is becoming completely dangerous. Through a strategy called Operation Carpet, Ukraine is deploying large numbers of drones near Russian airports to force their closure and paralyze civilian air traffic. While Zelenskyy clarified that Ukraine does not target civilian aircraft, he stated the scale of drone presence would compel air-traffic control to halt operations to avoid accidents. Ukraine formally notified the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) of these risks on September 2.

Russian President Vladimir Putin responded by labeling the warnings a declaration of state terrorism and asserted that Russia does not negotiate with terrorists. Despite these threats, Putin suggested a chance for peace exists but insisted the conflict must be resolved exclusively between Russia and Ukraine. Russian Transport Minister Andrei Nikitin vowed that the government would not allow significant disruptions to civil aviation, though flight data showed major disruptions and cancellations at Moscow's Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo airports.

Simultaneously, Russia intensified its aerial campaign, launching near-continuous waves of jet-powered drones against Ukrainian cities. Strikes on September 2 and 3 targeted residential buildings and a university in Kyiv, as well as a Coca-Cola production facility in Brovary, which Zelenskyy called a clear signal to the United States. In Odesa, Russian strikes on a 21-story residential building wounded 17 people. Amidst the escalation, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner coordinated visits to Kyiv and Moscow to discuss a potential ceasefire formula.