"Massive Drone Swarms Will Close Russian Airspace," Warns Zelenskyy

▲ Ukraine showcased its military might with a parade featuring large-scale drone and robotic forces on August 24 (local time), marking the 35th anniversary of its independence.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed on September 1 (local time) that "we must consider the point where a massive number of drones will appear in Russian skies," adding that "Russian airspace will effectively be closed."

In his address that day, President Zelenskyy stated, "Russian airspace is now completely unsafe. We warn all airlines using Russian airspace, and all insurance companies and individuals using Russia's major airports."

President Zelenskyy also noted, "Ukraine does not directly threaten civilian aircraft," and "Ukraine does not want innocent lives to be sacrificed."

At the same time, he added, "The war started by Russia is now closing their own skies," pointing out that "the first missiles and drones came from Russia and crossed our border through Russian airspace," and that "this escalation cannot be limited solely to Ukrainian territory."

President Zelenskyy went on to warn that "the days when Russian airspace was safe are over," stating that foreign ambassadors stationed in Russia and airlines operating flights to major Russian cities such as Moscow and Saint Petersburg must take note of this.

President Zelenskyy repeatedly emphasized, "The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies will provide international organizations with all information regarding the dangers of Russian airspace," adding, "A sky filled with drones is not a place where civilian aircraft can safely operate."

These remarks, hinting that the Ukrainian military is preparing for a large-scale offensive against Russia, have sparked interpretations that the comments are intended as pressure to force Russia to the negotiating table.

Earlier that day, Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) announced that it had struck an oil refinery belonging to the Russian private energy company Novatek at the Ust-Luga port in western Russia, leading to the Baltic Sea.

With Ukraine's offensive intensifying around May, numerous Russian energy infrastructures have been destroyed, resulting in gasoline supply shortages in Russia.

Meanwhile, Russian airstrikes targeting a combined heat and power plant, port infrastructure, and facilities at the Ukraine-Romania border checkpoint in the southern Ukrainian region of Odesa bordering the Black Sea also took place that day.

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