Vitaly Portnikov: Putin Understands This Perfectly Well

Irreversible processes may begin in Russia.

A statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—that Russian airspace could become dangerous for civil aviation due to the activity of Ukrainian drones—is already affecting air traffic in the Russian Federation. This was reported on the air by “Espresso” by Ukrainian journalist Vitaly Portnikov.

Portnikov explained that this is not just about possible attacks on Russian airports. According to him, the mere presence of a large number of drones in Russian airspace could make civilian flights dangerous or force airlines to cancel some of their flights.

At the same time, Putin called the possible closure of Russian airports due to drones “state terrorism.”

In response, Portnikov questioned this assessment, recalling Russian strikes on Ukrainian aviation infrastructure.

“I’d be very interested to know: when the Russians were striking our airports—was that some kind of Santa Claus prank? Isn’t that state terrorism? Why is closing Russian airports considered state terrorism, but destroying Ukrainian airports isn’t? What makes some airports better than others?” the journalist noted.

In his view, this issue should concern not only the Russian authorities but also Russian society itself.

Portnikov also emphasized that even Zelenskyy’s statement alone could already have economic consequences for Russia. According to him, it is not necessary to immediately attack facilities to cause damage—it is enough to create a realistic perception of risks to civil aviation.

“The current situation shows that it is possible to inflict serious damage on the Russian economy even with words alone. After all, Zelenskyy hasn’t done anything yet. He simply mentioned such a possibility,” the journalist said.

According to Portnikov, following the Ukrainian president’s statement, a number of airlines began reviewing their flights to and from Russia, assessing the prospects for continued flights in dangerous airspace. Another factor, in his opinion, could be the stance of insurance companies. As flight risks increase, so does the cost of insurance, which further influences the decisions of airlines.

According to the journalist, the Kremlin understands the potential consequences of serious disruptions or a complete halt to civil air traffic.

“And Putin understands this perfectly well. In a country like Russia, with its vast distances, the complete collapse of air travel would be the most serious blow not only to the economy but also to politics,” Portnikov emphasized.

He highlighted the particular importance of aviation for Russia due to the vast distances between its regions. Airplanes provide rapid transportation between the European part of the country and remote territories, and also make it possible to quickly move people and resources.

“How would you quickly get from Vladivostok, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, or even Novosibirsk to the European part of the Russian Federation? You couldn’t. No planes—no connections,” the journalist noted.

According to him, a prolonged disruption of air service could exacerbate the isolation of certain regions from the federal center and complicate the management of this vast territory.

“The process of regional isolation is beginning. It also involves deploying troops to various locations if necessary. Without air transport, you can’t deploy anything. And the Kremlin is well aware of this, too,” Portnikov concluded.

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