Ukraine authorities have banned Russian passenger planes from flying to Donetsk and Kharkiv, reports said.
An unidentified employee said Friday Russian airlines had received an order from Ukraine's aviation head banning Russian airlines from entering the airspace around the two cities in eastern Ukraine, Interfax reported.
The employee also said the affected airlines were planning on redirecting flights to other destinations in Ukraine.
The order was made public hours after two helicopters belonging to Ukrainian government forces were shot down over the pro-Russian stronghold of Slovyansk, killing two pilots.
Russian airline Aeroflot subsequently canceled two flights destined for Kharkiv and told passengers they would be able to rebook their flights, free of charge, a statement on the airline's website said.?
Transaero Airlines also announced in a statement it was canceling flights to Donetsk.
Also see:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.