Europe 1 with AFP 3:31 p.m., February 26, 2022

Russia announced on Saturday the closure of its airspace for planes linked to Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic, after a similar decision taken by Warsaw, Prague and Sofia against Russian airlines.

This closure also concerns transit flights, but exceptions are possible.

Russia announced on Saturday the closure of its airspace for planes linked to Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic, after a similar decision taken by Warsaw, Prague and Sofia against Russian airlines.

“Due to the unfriendly decisions of the air authorities of Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic from 3 p.m. Moscow time (noon GMT) on February 26, 2022 “Russia closes its airspace to” airlines from these countries and /or those registered there," Russian air regulator Rosaviatsia said.

However, exceptions are possible

This closure also concerns transit flights.

Derogations are however possible in the event of the issuance of a special authorization from Rosaviatsia or the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to the Russian regulator.

Poland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria announced Friday the closure of their airspace to Russian airlines, following the aggression of Ukraine by Moscow.

The Polish national company LOT also announced the suspension of its flights to Moscow and Saint Petersburg on Friday afternoon.

These announcements follow a similar decision, hitting the Russian national company Aeroflot, taken Thursday by Great Britain.

#Estonia is banning Russian airlines from our airspace.

We invite all EU countries to do the same.

There is no place for planes of the aggressor state in democratic skies.

#StandWithUkraine

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) February 26, 2022

Russia for its part reacted by prohibiting the overflight of its territory to all planes linked to the United Kingdom, including flights in transit.

Moldova had closed its airspace on Thursday.

On Saturday, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas announced on Twitter that his country was closing its airspace to Russian airlines.

"We call on all EU member countries to do so," she added.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa quoted his Estonian counterpart's tweet, stressing that Slovenia would apply the same measure.

And Latvian Minister of Transport Talis Linkaits indicated, still on Twitter, that his country was going to "close its airspace to airlines registered in Russia, for commercial flights", specifying that this decision would be formally approved at the next Council of Ministers. .