Ukraine threatens to disrupt Russian airspace and Moscow airports

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russian airspace is becoming ‘completely unsafe,’ prompting Kyiv to notify the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This follows months of operational disruptions at major Moscow airports, including Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, Zhukovsky, and Vnukovo, which faced near-daily traffic suspensions in October due to Ukrainian drone attacks.

Experts suggest Ukraine could potentially paralyze Moscow's aviation hub. Russia utilizes a security protocol known as ‘Plan Tepih’ (Carpet Plan), managed by the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia), which allows for the immediate closure of airspace over specific regions or airports during military threats, unauthorized entries, or the appearance of unidentified objects. Aviation expert Oleksandr Laneckij noted that because drones represent a military threat, the activation of this plan leads to strict restrictions on all air traffic.