Since the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, 15 of the country's civilian airports have been damaged. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal claimed on Saturday (November 30) in the local press.
According to the country's civil aviation service, Ukraine has a total of 20 civilian airports. The country's airspace has been completely closed since the start of the war. However, Kiev is looking for ways to partially use the airspace.
At present, if Ukrainians want to go abroad, they have to go to neighboring countries by road or rail to catch a flight. For residents of the eastern part of the country, it takes a day to catch a flight.
At a conference, the Ukrainian prime minister said an assessment of potential risks had been completed. We have also identified locations of Air Defense Force participation for partial opening of airspace.
He also said that the security situation and military situation were the main reasons for taking this decision.
He said that in the last three months, Russia has carried out about 60 attacks on the port infrastructure of Ukraine. As a result, around 300 infrastructures and 22 civilian vehicles were damaged or destroyed.
Earlier this month, a senior partner at insurance brokerage Marsh McLennan told Reuters that the airport in the western city of Lviv could reopen in 2025, subject to approval by security agencies and politicians.
