UK Bans Russian Airlines from Entering British Airspace

The UK Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, said he had issued a ban on all Russian airlines.

According to Russia's Federal Agency for Air Transport (Rosaviatsiya), all British carriers' flights to Russia, as well as transit flights, would be banned beginning today (Friday).

The move was made in response to "unfriendly decisions" made by British authorities, who barred Russian flag carrier Aeroflot from flying to the UK as part of sanctions imposed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Shapps declared on Twitter that he has signed regulations barring any scheduled Russian airlines from entering the UK or landing on British soil.

"Putin's despicable deeds will not be overlooked, and those who endanger people's lives will never be tolerated."

Asia and the Pacific countries have joined the United States, the European Union, and others in the West in imposing sanctions on Russian institutions and corporations.

The countries have also imposed export restrictions in order to deprive Russia's businesses and military of semiconductors and other high-tech goods.

"Japan must clearly demonstrate its position that we will never tolerate any attempt to change the status quo by force," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Friday while announcing new punitive measures that included freezing Russian groups, banks, and inpiduals' visas and assets, as well as suspending shipments of semiconductors and other restricted goods to Russian military-linked organisations.

"Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a catastrophic development that has repercussions for the international order, not only in Europe but also in Asia," Kishida said.

The steps come in the wake of Russia's full-fledged invasion of Ukraine. Putin's forces carried out airstrikes on cities and military bases, and troops and tanks rolled into the country from three directions. As citizens fled, Ukraine's authorities called for assistance. Hundreds of Ukrainians, both civilians and military personnel, were slain.

"An unimaginable number of innocent lives could be lost as a result of Russia's decision," said Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand. She announced targeted travel bans and other penalties against Russian officials.