Ready for Takeoff: Russian Airports Await Final Military Green Light to Reopen

Russian civil aviation officials announced on Friday that all airports that were closed following the beginning of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine are ready to reopen, pending final approval from the Defense Ministry.

In February 2022, flights were halted at 11 airports in southern and central Russia due to safety concerns as President Vladimir Putin deployed troops into Ukraine. Three of these airports have reopened since then.

Dmitry Yadrov, the head of Rosaviatsia, informed the state news agency TASS that the eight remaining airports are “prepared to resume operations,” but emphasized that the Defense Ministry’s authorization is required before flights can start again.

“We are in constant communication with the Defense Ministry,” Yadrov stated.

Transportation Minister Andrei Nikitin mentioned earlier this week that efforts are being made to restart operations at the airports as soon as federal security agencies provide the necessary approvals.

The Defense Ministry has not yet responded regarding the potential resumption of flights at the eight airports, which are located in the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions, as well as in annexed Crimea.

Rosaviatsia has maintained its staffing levels at approximately 90% of what they were prior to 2022 at ten southern airports and received 11 billion rubles (around $139 million) last year to mitigate losses from the closures.