After the United States and dozens of Western countries decided this weekend to evacuate their embassy staff and their nationals, concern is mounting. As Russian military exercises take place in Belarus and the Black Sea, Dutch airline KLM decided on Saturday to suspend flights to Ukraine.
With our correspondent in Kiev, Stephane Siohan
During the weekend, dozens of countries have asked their nationals to leave Ukraine, and on Saturday, the American authorities encouraged their expatriates to go by land to the Polish border. After the Dutch company KLM suspended its flights, a plane between Madeira and Kiev from the company low cost Ukrainian Sky Up was diverted to Moldova on the orders of the owner of the plane, the latter being of Irish nationality.
According to Ukraine’s air traffic regulator, insurance companies are reluctant to cover flights in an area where Russian military exercises are taking place and where there is a threat of military intervention.
Flights banned over the Black Sea
On Sunday, a Council of Ministers took place in Kiev to directly discuss the issue and the Ukrainian authorities offered exceptional financial aid to ensure the continuity of air traffic.
However, the Ukrainian organization that regulates aviation activity has called for a ban on flights over the Black Sea from Monday, and if the major airlines follow the recommendations of the States, Ukraine could soon find themselves totally isolated.
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