Russia bans Ukrainian flights over its territory to Georgia

Russia has closed transit routes for all Ukrainian airlines that pass over its territory in a number of countries, including Georgia.

Russian media reported Russia had banned all Ukrainian airline transit flights through the airspace above its territory to Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey.

Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was quoted as saying at a governmental meeting that the decision had "already been made”.

Reuters reported Medvedev stated Russia was considering implementing measures to restrict the travel of Trans-Siberian routes to the Asia-Pacific region in retaliation for new sanctions being imposed on Russia. If adopted, this would affect air carriers from Europe as far as will impose costs making flights take longer and require more fuel.