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Ukraine: Zelenskyy warns airlines to avoid Russian airspace
Ukraine: Zelenskyy warns airlines to avoid Russian airspace
Natalie Muller with Reuters, AFP, AP and dpa | Felix TamsutPublished 09/02/2026Published September 2, 2026last updated 09/02/2026last updated September 2, 2026Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned a surge in Ukrainian drones in Russia's skies meant Russian airspace would be "effectively" closed. Meanwhile, Russian drones have hit Kyiv for a seventh straight day.
https://p.dw.com/p/5KRp9What you need to know
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Read below for developments regarding Russia's war in Ukraine on Wednesday, September 2.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns drone surge is making Russian airspace unsafe for civil aviation
- Zelenskyy also says Germany and Ukraine are finalizing a drone deal
- Two civilians reported killed in Russian attacks on central Ukrainian city of Dnipro
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Skip next section Putin to not stop at Ukraine, German minister warns09/02/2026September 2, 2026Putin to not stop at Ukraine, German minister warns
Wesley Dockery EditorA Russia win in the war in Ukraine would encourage autocrats all around the world, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.
"If Russia, if Vladimir Putin wins this war, then that is a blueprint for all the autocrats in this world to say: what do I care about the law, the sovereign rights of other nations?" Pistorius said in the northern German city of Braunschweig.
"Vladimir Putin will not stop if he were to take Ukraine," the Social Democrat warned.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Kh8aSkip next section Germany says EU countries handing out too many visas to Russians09/02/2026September 2, 2026Germany says EU countries handing out too many visas to Russians
Berlin is pushing for other EU members to cut down on tourist visas to Russian citizens, essentially calling for stricter rules across the entire EU.
More than 600,000 short-stay visas were issued by EU countries in Russia last year. Italy, France and Spain issued the most, while Germany approved a mere 20,000.
Berlin says it wants to make sure that people who could pose a security risk are not allowed to enter the EU.
The call comes as tensions between Germany and Russia peak over Berlin’s accusation that Moscow was the mastermind behind an attempted drone attack a German airport in August.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Kh6USkip next section Russian ship seized in Norway09/02/2026September 2, 2026Russian ship seized in Norway
Norway has seized a Russian ship due to a request by Ukrainian state company Naftogaz, the company said.
According to Naftogaz — which has been looking for compensation from Russia since 2016 due to its expropriation of Naftogaz property — the seizure was meant to ensure that Russia meets its outstanding obligations.
It was ordered by the Nord-Troms and Senja District Court.
The vessel, the Professor Molchanov, was Russia-owned.
"Russia cannot evade responsibility by refusing to comply with an international arbitral award, " Naftogaz's acting CEO Sergii Fedorenko said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Kh6JSkip next section Belgium's position on frozen Russian assets unchanged09/02/2026September 2, 2026Belgium's position on frozen Russian assets unchanged
Belgium's opposition to using frozen Russian assets has remained in place, the country's foreign minister said.
This comes after several European Union countries called the bloc to move forward with the move last week.
According to Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, the idea "generated little enthusiasm" among the bloc's foreign ministers, adding the Brussels government's objection to the move stems from reasons that "have not magically disappeared."
About 210 billion euros (243.4 billion dollars) of Russian assets were immobilized following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Belgium last year rejected the European Commission's proposal to use the assets for a loan to Ukraine due to fears it would not be singled out by potential lawsuits by Russia.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Ke5lSkip next section READ MORE: Should Germany intensify its response after the failed Leipzig attack?09/02/2026September 2, 2026READ MORE: Should Germany intensify its response after the failed Leipzig attack?
The German government is holding Russia responsible for an unsuccessful attack in Leipzig. Yet many feel that its response has been too mild.
Read the full story: Russia's hybrid attacks on Germany: When is it 'war?'
Germany blames Russia for attempted terror attack in Leipzig
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https://p.dw.com/p/5KczmSkip next section Pressure on Russia to grow, EU foreign policy chief says09/02/2026September 2, 2026Pressure on Russia to grow, EU foreign policy chief says
The European Union's foreign policy head Kaja Kallas said the bloc is interested in tightening the enforcement of sanctions against Russia.
The move should also come with increasing pressure on Moscow, as well as increasing support for Ukraine.
"Attempts to intimidate Europe will fail," Kallas said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5KahASkip next section Childrens' hospice founder arrested after war criticism09/02/2026September 2, 2026Childrens' hospice founder arrested after war criticism
The founder of a Russian children's hospice has been detained and charged with deliberately spreading false information about the war in Ukraine.
Lida Moniava, who is known for her engagement for sick children, took to Telegram to call the war a crime and said it must end.
According to Russian investigators, Moniava posted false information "presented as credible reports" about the Russian army's actions against civilian population in Ukraine.
The childrens' hospice Moniava founded in Moscow said it will continue to operate as usual, without adding further information.
"We decided to leave while we still could"
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https://p.dw.com/p/5Ka9HSkip next section EU summons Russian envoy over failed Leipzig attack09/02/2026September 2, 2026EU summons Russian envoy over failed Leipzig attack
The European Union's foreign policy head Kaja Kallas summoned the Russian envoy in Brussels following Germany's announcement that Russia was behind the attempted attack at Leipzig Airport last month.
Leipzig drone threat prompts security concerns in Germany
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https://p.dw.com/p/5KXJoSkip next section WATCH: Why are books becoming a casualty of war in Ukraine?09/02/2026September 2, 2026WATCH: Why are books becoming a casualty of war in Ukraine?
Why Ukraine's books are becoming a casualty of war
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https://p.dw.com/p/5KWzWSkip next section Ukraine says Russian airspace 'not safe' amid drone surge09/02/2026September 2, 2026Ukraine says Russian airspace 'not safe' amid drone surge
Kyiv says it has formally notified the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that Russian airspace is "not safe" as a result of increasing Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian territory.
Ukraine has also asked the UN agency to prohibit member countries from using Russian airspace, according to a government letter to the ICAO cited by Reuters.
It came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines to stay away.
"We in Ukraine do not want innocent lives to be lost. That is why we are warning our partners: the safe days in Russia's skies are over," Zelenskyy said.
"Drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation," he added. "The sky over Russia is currently for drones ... as long as the war continues."
Last week, Zelenskyy threatened to deploy up to 1,000 long-range drones per day.
The ICAO has not commented on the request from Ukraine.
Russia's aviation watchdog regularly closes airports in response to the Ukrainian drones. Ukraine's airspace has been closed since the war started in 2022.
While European and US carriers do not fly over Russia due to the conflict, the airspace is used by other airlines from China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries.
Russia has stepped up its strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in recent weeks. Ukraine has responded with long-range drone strikes on Russian energy and military infrastructure.
https://p.dw.com/p/5KTMdSkip next section Kyiv under attack for 7th straight day, 2 civilians killed in Dnipro09/02/2026September 2, 2026Kyiv under attack for 7th straight day, 2 civilians killed in Dnipro
Russian drones hit central Kyiv for a seventh day in a row on Wednesday, injuring seven people and damaging residential and university buildings, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The attack on a downtown university forced some 160 people to take shelter, he added.
Also on Wednesday, Russia struck electricity facilities in the southern Odesa region, knocking out power to more than 350,000 homes, authorities said.
Two people were also killed and eight wounded in Russian strikes on the southeastern city of Dnipro, officials said.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia fired 174 attack drones, as well as two ballistic missiles and two plane-launched missiles at Ukraine overnight.
Meanwhile, Russia said its air defenses destroyed 130 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Ukrainian drone attacks on Wednesday killed two people in Russia's Belgorod border region and wounded 16 more, officials said.
Russia launches missile and drone barrage on Kyiv
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https://p.dw.com/p/5KVFVSkip next section Ukraine and Germany close to inking drone deal, Zelenskyy says 09/02/2026September 2, 2026Ukraine and Germany close to inking drone deal, Zelenskyy says
Ukraine is close to finalizing a drone deal with Germany, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday after a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
"This will, among other things, certainly enhance the defense capabilities of both Germany and Ukraine," the Ukrainian president wrote on Telegram.
The agreement, initially proposed by Ukraine several months ago, is expected to involve the joint development of several types of drones, missiles and related software.
Zelenskyy thanked Germany and said he would meet with the chancellor to sign the deal in person.
https://p.dw.com/p/5KTqoSkip next section Welcome to our coverage09/02/2026September 2, 2026Welcome to our coverage
Natalie Muller | Elizabeth Schumacher EditorUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned airlines to avoid Russian airspace amid a surge in Ukrainian drone activity.
Kyiv formally notified the International Civil Aviation Organization that Russian airspace was "not safe."
Moscow, in response, said it was improving flight safety and would not allow Ukraine to seriously disrupt aviation.
More than four years after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the two countries continue to trade daily strikes.
Russian attacks on Wednesday killed two civilians and wounded six in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, local officials said, while the capital Kyiv was targeted for a seventh day in a row.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said he held a call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and that their two countries were close to finalizing a drone deal.
We'll be following these developments, along with other key events in Russia's war against Ukraine, throughout the day in this blog.
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