The Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise (UkSATSE) announced on February 24 the closure of Ukraine's airspace to civilian airspace users as tensions with Russia continue to escalate.
In a notice, UkSATSE said the suspension takes effect from 00:45 UTC on February 24, 2022, on the basis of an urgent message from Russia's centre for the use of civil aviation airspace and due to risks to aviation safety.
"Announcement on the suspension of the airspace of UkraineBased on the urgent message of the Main Center for the Use of Airspace of Civil Aviation of the Russian Federation, due to the high risk of aviation safety for civil aviation ... of the Joint Civil-Military Air Traffic Management System of Ukraine on the use of Ukraine's airspace, in accordance with the requirements of the Air Code of Ukraine and the Regulations on the use of Ukrainian airspace, has taken urgent measures to close Ukraine's airspace to civilian airspace users," the statement said.
The provision of air traffic services to civilian users of the airspace of Ukraine is suspended, UkSATSE added.
Operations at some Russian hubs suspended
Meanwhile, Russia has also announced the closure of its airspace for civilian flights on the western border with Ukraine and Belarus.
On the same day, Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) placed restrictions on air services to selected Russian airports from 03:45 on February 24, 2022 to 03:45 on March 2, 2022.
"The operations of Anapa Vityazevo Airport, Belgorod International Airport, Bryansk Airport, Elista Airport, Gelendzhik Airport, Krasnodar Pashkovsky Airport, Kursk Vostochny Airport, Oryol Yuzhny Airport, Rostov Platov Airport, Simferopol International Airport, Stavropol Shpakovskoye Airport and Voronezh Chertovitskoye Airport are temporarily suspended," Rosaviatsiya said.
Just a day earlier, Ukraine confirmed that its airspace remains open despite the implememtation of a state of emergency.
On February 23, UkSATSE wrote: "Ukraine's airspace remains open and available for planning and operating air services. State Aviation Administration of Ukraine and UkSATSE maintain continuous operational communication with the military sector and international partners to ensure transparency in assessing potential risks."
It added: "Currently, the situation in the airspace of Ukraine is controlled and stable, flight safety is fully ensured".
The Verkhovna Rada imposed a state of emergency in Ukraine, excluding the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, for a period of 30 days, effective 00:00 on February 24.
Measures that time included the establishment of a special regime of entry and exit, as well as restrictions on freedom of movement. No additional restrictions have been imposed on the aviation industry so far.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said separately that the airspace in Russia and Belarus within 100 nautical miles of their borders with Ukraine could also pose safety risks.
"In particular, there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft," EASA said in a conflict zone bulletin.
"The presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems poses a high risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels," it added.