Ukraine: Zelenskyy warns airlines to avoid Russian airspace
Deutsche Welle · LC · trust 50/100
Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned a surge in Ukrainian drones in Russia's skies meant Russian airspace would be "effectively" closed. Meanwhile, Russian drones have hit Kyiv for a seventh straight day. Follow DW for more.
https://p.dw.com/p/5KRp9 Ukraine has stepped up its use of long-range drones to target Russian territory Image: Evgeniy Maloletka/AP Photo/picture alliance Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Read below for the latest developments from Russia's war in Ukraine on Wednesday, September 2.
Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google.
09/02/2026 September 2, 2026 READ MORE: Should Germany intensify its response after the failed Leipzig attack? The German government is holding Russia responsible for an unsuccessful attack in Leipzig . Yet many feel that its response has been too mild.
Read the full story: Russia's hybrid attacks on Germany: When is it 'war?'
Germany blames Russia for attempted terror attack in Leipzig To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
09/02/2026 September 2, 2026 Pressure on Russia to grow, EU foreign policy chief says The European Union 's foreign policy head Kaja Kallas said the bloc is interested in tightening the enforcement of sanctions against Russia.
The move should also come with increasing pressure on Moscow, as well as increasing support for Ukraine.
"Attempts to intimidate Europe will fail," Kallas said.
09/02/2026 September 2, 2026 Childrens' hospice founder arrested after war criticism The founder of a Russian children's hospice has been detained and charged with deliberately spreading false information about the war in Ukraine.
Lida Moniava, who is known for her engagement for sick children, took to Telegram to call the war a crime and said it must end.
According to Russian investigators, Moniava posted false information "presented as credible reports" about the Russian army's actions against civilian population in Ukraine.
The childrens' hospice Moniava founded in Moscow said it will continue to operate as usual, without adding further information.
"We decided to leave while we still could" To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
09/02/2026 September 2, 2026 EU summons Russian envoy over failed Leipzig attack The European Union's foreign policy head Kaja Kallas summoned the Russian envoy in Brussels following Germany's announcement that Russia was behind the attempted attack at Leipzig Airport last month.
Leipzig drone threat prompts security concerns in Germany To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
09/02/2026 September 2, 2026 WATCH: Why are books becoming a casualty of war in Ukraine? Why are books becoming a casualty of war in Ukraine? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
09/02/2026 September 2, 2026 Ukraine says Russian airspace 'not safe' amid drone surge Kyiv says it has formally notified the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that Russian airspace is "not safe" as a result of increasing Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory.
Ukraine has also asked the UN agency to prohibit member countries from using Russian airspace, according to a government letter to the ICAO cited by Reuters.
It came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines to stay away.
"We in Ukraine do not want innocent lives to be lost. That is why we are warning our partners: the safe days in Russia's skies are over," Zelenskyy said.
"Drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation," he added. "The sky over Russia is currently for drones ... as long as the war continues."
Last week, Zelenskyy threatened to deploy up to 1,000 long-range drones per day.
The ICAO has not commented on the request from Ukraine.
Russia 's aviation watchdog regularly closes airports in response to the Ukrainian drones. Ukraine's airspace has been closed since the war started in 2022.
While European and US carriers do not fly over Russia due to the conflict, the airspace is used by other airlines from China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries.
Russia has stepped up its strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in recent weeks. Ukraine has responded with long-range drone strikes on Russian energy and military infrastructure.
09/02/2026 September 2, 2026 Kyiv under attack for 7th straight day, 2 civilians killed in Dnipro Russian drones hit central Kyiv for a seventh day in a row on Wednesday, injuring seven people and damaging residential and university buildings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The attack on a downtown university forced some 160 people to take shelter, he added.
Also on Wednesday, Russia struck electricity facilities in the southern Odesa region, knocking out power to more than 350,000 homes, authorities said.
Two people were also killed and eight wounded in Russian strikes on the southeastern city of Dnipro, officials said.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia fired 174 attack drones, as well as two ballistic missiles and two plane-launched missiles at Ukraine overnight.
Meanwhile, Russia said its air defenses destroyed 130 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Ukrainian drone attacks on Wednesday killed two people in Russia's Belgorod border region and wounded 16 more, officials said.
Russia launches missile and drone barrage on Kyiv To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
09/02/2026 September 2, 2026 Ukraine and Germany close to inking drone deal, Zelenskyy says Ukraine is close to finalizing a drone deal with Germany, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday after a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz .
…
Read the original at Deutsche Welle →
Open in TruthVane →