Ukraine's airspace to remain closed until it is 100% safe, air traffic operator says

Ukraine will not resume civil aviation flights until it is 100% safe. This can happen only a few weeks after the end of the war, said Oksana Ozhyhova, deputy director of the state air traffic operator Ukraerorukh for administrative issues.

"Today, we are taking clear steps to resume flights as soon as possible, as soon as it becomes possible. But now it's all just preparatory work," she said on the air of the Kyiv TV channel.

Currently, Ukraine is doing everything possible to restore civil aviation as soon as possible. But this will happen only when it is safe to fly.

"Everything we have as a result of today's overnight attack, we call 'danger'. We associate everything related to aviation with the word security. Until 100% security is guaranteed in the airspace of Ukraine, it is too early for us to build any forecasts," Ozhyhova stated.

The opening of the airspace for civilian aircraft will be preceded by a corresponding decision of the Ukrainian authorities based on the results of the audit of international partners regarding the safety of flights, she emphasized.

Earlier, Minister Delegate of Transport of France Clément Beaune said that Ukraine is preparing for the likely partial opening of the skies for civilian flights. Ukrainian pilots and air traffic controllers are already practicing on simulators in Toulouse.

According to the forecast of the European Aviation Safety Agency, restrictions on flights over Ukraine, as well as Moldova, Belarus, and Russia will remain until 2029.

Air services in Ukraine will be opened immediately after the end of the war, Ukraerorukh stated earlier. They explained that Eurocontrol's forecast is based on the current situation in the aviation industry and will be revised.