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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy looks toward reporters during a joint press conference held after a meeting with the Estonian president in Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 25 local time. / AFP, Yonhap

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned the international community that Russian airspace will become increasingly hazardous for civilian aircraft due to Ukraine's expanding drone operations.

According to Reuters, Euronews, and other media outlets on the 1st local time, President Zelenskyy stated that the war initiated by Moscow would not remain confined to Ukrainian territory, saying that "the war Russia started is effectively closing their skies."

He added that "Russian airspace will effectively be closed," warning all international airlines operating flights through Russian airspace or utilizing its airports, along with insurers and foreign governments, that the skies over Russia will no longer be safe.

While making clear that Ukraine would never directly target civilian aircraft, President Zelenskyy explained that the sheer scale of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations being conducted in Russian skies must be taken into account.

Ukraine's long-range strikes have been targeting military and energy facilities supporting Russia's war effort, including airfields, missile units, and oil refineries.

In response to the remarks, Russian President Vladimir Putin labeled them a "declaration of state terrorism."

President Putin stated that if the Ukrainian president's remarks are true, "this is nothing less than a declaration of state terrorism," adding that "we do not negotiate with terrorists."

Following Russia's invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian airspace was entirely shut down to civilian air traffic.

Russian civil aviation, by contrast, has continued operations despite frequent drone strikes and repeated temporary airport closures.

                                                                                                           Lee Jeong-eun