Andrew Lobbenberg
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Ukraine formally notifies ICAO that Russian airspace is unsafe for civil aviation
On September 2, 2026, Ukraine officially notified the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that Russia's airspace is unsafe for civil aviation and called on airlines and governments to avoid flights over Russian territory. The step followed President Zelensky's September 1 statement that Russian airspace was becoming fully unsafe due to Ukrainian drones and missiles responding to Russian aggression. Within hours, Turkish carriers cancelled flights between Turkey and Moscow, Russian airline shares fell, and Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of "state terrorism" and threatened retaliation.