Ukraine to ban transit flights of Russian airlines

Ukraine will ban transit flights of Russian airlines through its airspace starting from Thursday, the country's Infrastructure Ministry said Wednesday.

"The Ukrainian government has decided to ban all Russian carriers from entering the Ukrainian airspace due to the escalation of military and socio-political situation," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Accusing Russian airlines of systematically violating flight rules, the ministry said the restrictions are aimed at "preventing any possible provocations" in the airspace of Ukraine.

The ministry has estimated the economic losses from the transit flights ban at between 26.5 million U.S. dollars and 31.8 million dollars per year.

Later in the day, Russian aviation agency said that the new travel restrictions have only an "insignificant" impact on Moscow, as few Russian carriers use the Ukrainian airspace for transit flights.

Last month, Kiev barred all Russian airlines from flying to Ukraine in a move that prompted a retaliatory response from Moscow.

Russia has banned transit flights of Ukrainian airlines in August.

Sources: XINHUA