Ukraine closes airspace to civilian flights amid “high risk” to safety
KYIV, Ukraine: Ukraine said early on Thursday it had closed its airspace to civilian flights because of a “high risk” to safety, hours after a conflict zone monitor warned airlines should stop overflights over the risk of an unintended shootdown or cyberattack. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, near the Kremlin Wall during the national celebrations in Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military operation in eastern Ukraine on Thursday in what appeared to be the start of war in Europe. “The provision of air traffic services to civilian users of the airspace of Ukraine is suspended,” Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise said on its website. “We will additionally inform about changes in the use of Ukraine’s airspace,” the agency added, without providing further details. Eurocontrol, which coordinates air traffic in Europe, said that Ukraine’s airspace was not available because of militar...