EASA DECLARES UKRAINIAN, RUSSIAN, MOLDOVAN, BELARUSIAN AREAS AN 'ACTIVE CONFLICT ZONE'

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) updated its recommendation to outline no operations should be conducted within the airspaces of Ukraine, Russia, Moldova and Belarus, including landing and departures from airports located in the affected airspace. 

 

EASA stated the affected airspaces include all altitudes and flight levels in the Lviv, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Simferopol, Odessa, Chisinau and Rostov flight information regions (FIR) and within 200 nautical miles surrounding the borders with Ukraine in the Moscow and Rostov FIRs.

 

The recommendation warns the areas are an "active conflict zone" and that there is risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft. 

 

EASA stated 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".

 

On the same day, Moldova announced that it is closing its airspace from airspace 00:00 on February 24 to ensure the safety and security of civil aviation.

 

It added that aircraft scheduled to land at Chisinau International Airport will be directed to reserve airports. 

 

Belarus' Ministry of Defence also announced the partial closure of Belarus' airspace to ensure security for civil aircraft, effective from 12:00 on February 24, 2022.

 

The restrictions affect the areas over the state border of Belarus, Vysokoye, Baranovichi, Osipovichi, Krichev and the southern part of the state border to Vysokoye.