Russia says it asked ICAO to condemn Ukraine warning

Russia said Friday it had asked the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization to condemn Ukraine's warnings that Russian airspace is becoming dangerous because of Ukrainian drones.

Russia's foreign ministry said it sent a protest note to ICAO's chief, calling on him to condemn what it described as unlawful Ukrainian interference with civil aviation and direct threats to it. The ministry called Ukraine's statements reckless terrorist actions that contravene international law.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned airlines earlier this week that Russian airspace would be completely unsafe and filled with Ukrainian drones. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the warning as terrorism.

Zelensky said last week that Ukraine was not threatening civilian aviation or any civilian aircraft. He said there would be drones in Russia's skies on a scale that had to be taken into account.

ICAO, based in Montreal, called on its members Wednesday to ensure the safety of civilian aircraft after Zelensky's statement. Ukraine's airspace has been closed since 2022.