“Russian missiles can reach anywhere”: Ukraine’s Air Force skeptical about resuming civilian flights

Ukraine's Air Force is skeptical about resuming civil aviation flights during martial law.

Rubryka reports, citing the statement of the spokesperson for the Air Force, Colonel Yurii Ihnat, on the air of the national telethon.

"It's difficult to understand how it is possible to conduct at all in a state of war. You see, we had a grain corridor from which Russia single-handedly withdrew. Will they negotiate with Russia if it does not attack humanitarian aviation corridors?" Ihnat said.

According to the spokesperson, all airfields in Ukraine are operational and used for various purposes. "We have a war, we have martial law, and you see that missiles and enemy drones can appear everywhere, in any part of the country," he said.

Ihnat added that it is excellent that civilian companies want to work in Ukraine and "conquer the Ukrainian aviation market" even amid Russian attacks, where the Russian forces use long-distance ballistic rockets, like Kinzhal. 

According to Ihnat, there is also the issue of insurance for the planes and lives of citizens in a warring state where missiles fly overhead. The practice of Israel, a country that can completely cover its territory with air defense, cannot be applied to Ukraine since the county has a vast territory.

In response to the journalist's remark about the idea of opening the airport in the western city of Uzhhorod for flights, where the runways are on the territory of Ukraine, but the planes actually fly into the airspace of Slovakia, and the Russian Federation may not dare to attack the NATO country, Ihnat responded that theoretically, "nothing would prevent the enemy from using his well-known practice" to declare that there is "Western equipment" on the territory of the airfield and to hit the airstrips.

"Missiles are flying from everywhere and of different types. The enemy is powerful and has technological weapons. Of course, we really want aviation to work, but we have blocked airspace over Ukraine as of now, and I think it will not be opened soon," said Yurii Ihnat.

Background

The day before, the Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair said that it is considering the possibility of resuming a small number of flights to Ukraine until the end of 2023, subject to successful negotiations on the partial opening of the airspace.

As Rubryka reported, on July 20, the management of the largest airline company in Europe, Ryanair, arrived in Ukraine. The delegation is negotiating with the management of the Boryspil international airport about resuming flights after the end of the war.