Moscow: The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that the notice issued by Ukraine claiming that Russian airspace was not safe for civilian aviation distorts facts, misleads users of Russian airspace and carries no legal force.
In a statement on its official website on Friday (local time), the ministry said Russia had lodged a resolute protest against Ukraine’s reckless terrorist acts that run counter to international law.
The ministry stated that the Ukrainian side’s remarks pose a direct threat to civil aviation. Relevant Russian authorities are in contact with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and have sent an urgent appeal to the ICAO secretary-general, reports Xinhua news agency.
Russia remains unwavering in safeguarding civil aviation safety, the ministry added.
On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned international airlines that Russian airspace is becoming “completely unsafe” as Ukraine responds to an “escalation” in missile and drone attacks.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities said on Thursday that Ukrainian forces launched hundreds of drone and artillery attacks on the Belgorod and Moscow regions, killing one civilian and injuring 21 others.
Belgorod acting Governor Alexander Shuvayev said the region came under 178 attacks over the past 24 hours, including artillery strikes and drone attacks that left one dead.
Additionally, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said Russian air defences downed 548 drones targeting the Moscow region between Wednesday morning and Thursday noon.
A drone strike also sparked a fire at a plant in the Moscow region’s Bogorodsky district, regional Governor Andrei Vorobyov said, adding that emergency crews were working at the site.
Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said negotiations on Ukraine had stalled. He also dismissed reports that Russia would launch a new round of mobilisation after the State Duma election as “nonsense”.
He said Russia supports negotiations based on concrete substance and would welcome any efforts that could make a practical contribution to ending the conflict.
Putin said Russia hopes to achieve a lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine and across Europe, adding that Moscow is ready to negotiate with anyone willing to participate. Russia respects the positions of countries that support a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
(IANS)
