Europe: Moldova reopens airspace as of March 21; conflict-related disruptions to continue /update 26

Event

Authorities in Moldova have reopened the nation's airspace as of March 21. All flights to and from Moldova will fly through Romanian airspace as Ukrainian airspace remains closed. Authorities had previously closed Moldovan airspace February 24 after declaring a state of emergency related to Russia's military invasion of Ukraine.

Elsewhere, several governments are maintaining a plethora of international sanctions on Russia in response to its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions target the country's banking and finance sector, international travel capabilities, and specific Russian companies and citizens. Sanctions and countersanctions could limit the ability of some foreign nationals to operate in Russia and Belarus, and of Russian and Belarusian nationals to operate in Europe.

Still, foreign nationals seeking to leave Russia or Belarus, or Russians and Belarusians seeking to leave European nations, are unlikely to face administrative obstacles. However, flight availability has been significantly reduced. Foreign diplomatic missions in Russia or Belarus could be forced to limit consular services if sanctions prompt expulsions or withdrawals of embassy and consulate staff. While there may be an elevated threat of arbitrary politically motivated detentions until tensions ease, the likelihood of such actions remains low.

Airspace Closures
The EU has prohibited all Russian-owned, -registered, or -controlled aircraft, including private and charter flights, from landing in, taking off from, or transiting any EU nation. Switzerland, the UK, Canada, the US, and several additional countries have imposed similar bans. Rosaviatsiya has implemented reciprocal bans from Russian airspace for airlines operated by those countries. Flights from these countries can only be conducted with a special permit issued by Rosaviatsiya or the Russian Foreign Ministry. Airspace closures are resulting in significant disruptions to air travel, including scheduling changes and lengthier flight times, as carriers are forced to change routes.

Aside from national airspace closures, several Western airlines have either partially or fully suspended services using Russian airspace.

• Air France (AF) has suspended services to and overflights via Russia until further notice; consequently, flights to and from China, South Korea, and Japan will be temporarily suspended.

• Lufthansa (LH), Wizz Air (W6), and KLM (KL) have also halted flights to Russia temporarily; British Airways (BA) has stopped its service to Moscow.

• US carrier Delta (DL) has suspended its code-share arrangement with Russian flag carrier Aeroflot (SU).

• Swiss Airlines (LX) has suspended services to Russia through at least the end of March.

• AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines (J2) and its low-cost subsidiary Buta Airways have both suspended flights to Russia due to insurance and safety concerns.

• Korean Air (KE) has announced a suspension of its passenger flights to Russia and the rerouting of its cargo flights to avoid stopping in Moscow for fuel through April 30.

• Asiana Airlines (OZ) has also indicated it will avoid fueling in Moscow.

• Kazakhstan's Air Astana (KC) is suspending all flights to and from Russia; moreover, the carrier has stopped flying through Russian airspace and is rerouting all of its flights to other destinations which would normally transit Russia.

• Turkey-based Pegasus Airlines (PC) has canceled all flights to and from Russia through at least March 27, citing operational risks relating to the conflict in Ukraine.

Flights between Moscow, Russia, and Belgrade, Serbia, via Air Serbia (JU) are operating on a regular schedule; multiple bomb threats have been reported on flights between the two cities in recent days. Serbia is not a member of the EU and has not implemented sanctions or restrictions on Russia.

Aeroflot and S7 Airlines (S7) has suspended all international flights except those with Belarus since March 8; the measures also apply to Aeroflot subsidiaries Rossiya Airlines (FV) and Pobeda (DP). Rosaviatsiya has released a statement discouraging Russian airlines from conducting flights abroad due to concerns that current sanctions would lead to the seizure of leased aircraft. Further Russian airlines will likely enact similar suspensions.

European Air Travel Restrictions
Belarus has partially closed its airspace, including the southern Brest Region and areas south of Asipovichy and Krichev in the Mogilev Region. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has also issued a warning for Ukraine and surrounding regions, including an advisory to avoid using the airspace within 100 nautical miles (185 km/115 miles) of the Belarus-Ukraine and Russia-Ukraine borders. Moldova, on the other hand, has fully closed its airspace. To view the full EASA warning, click here.

Russian Domestic Air Restrictions
Russia is maintaining the suspension of commercial flight operations at several southern airports until at least March 26. Impacted airports include Rostov-on-Don Airport (RVI), Krasnodar International Airport (KRR), Anapa Airport (AAQ), Gelendzhik Airport (GDZ), Elista International Airport (ESL), Stavropol Shpakovskoye Airport (STW), Belgorod International Airport (EGO), Bryansk International Airport (BZK), Oryol Yuzhny Airport (OEL), Kursk Vostochny Airport (URS), Voronezh International Airport (VOZ), and Simferopol International Airport (SIP). Sochi International Airport (AER) remains operational as of March 19.

Embassy Warnings
Several governments have issued travel advisories that recommend against travel to Russia and recommend that citizens depart Russia.

• The US State Department has advised all US citizens in Russia whose presence is not essential to consider leaving the country immediately.

• The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised UK nationals whose presence in Russia is not essential to consider leaving by commercial means.

• The French Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) strongly urges all French citizens in Russia to leave the country if their presence is not essential.

• The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has advised all citizens to leave Russia immediately.

• The Government of Canada issued a warning advising all citizens to leave the country while commercial means are still available.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands advises citizens to leave Russia.

Several countries have also advised against all nonessential travel or all travel to Russia. Further travel advisories are likely from additional governments in the coming days.

Additionally, US authorities announced the suspension of operations at the embassy in Minsk and authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency employees and family members working at the embassy in Moscow.

Communications, Social Media
Russian authorities have announced their intention to classify Meta as an extremist organization due to reports of changes to Meta's hate speech policy regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Instagram was blocked in Russia from March 14; access to Facebook and Twitter was restricted in Russia in early March.

A Ukrainian cyber guerrilla warfare group has claimed it will launch cyberattacks against Russian infrastructure involved in moving troops and weapons to Ukraine. This could include rail infrastructure, telecommunications networks, and power grids; if successful, this could result in significant disruptions to business and services in Russia and Belarus.

Heightened Security and General Disruptions
Several countries sharing borders with Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia have implemented heightened security measures. Multiple NATO members in the region have invoked Article 4 of the NATO treaty. They could increase the readiness of their militaries as a result, though this is not an indication that they expect to become engaged in the conflict.

Moldova, Slovakia, and Lithuania have enacted states of emergency; Lithuania has tightened constituent measures to include a prohibition on collecting information on strategic sites or staging public events supporting Russia's actions. Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland are all keeping their respective borders with Ukraine open and are receiving refugees; special rail services shuttling evacuees across the border are available at some crossing points. These countries are also likely to maintain heightened troop deployments near their borders with Ukraine over at least the short term. Enhanced security measures and a sharp increase in individuals attempting to leave Ukraine will likely result in border crossing delays.

Ukraine has closed its border checkpoints with Belarus, Russia, and the Transnistria region of Moldova to foreign nationals; Ukrainian citizens are, however, permitted to return.

Sanctions
Authorities in the US, UK, and the EU have agreed to impose economic sanctions on Russia. These include excluding Russian organizations from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) system, forbidding citizens and companies from conducting transactions with several Russian organizations, including the Russian central bank, and freezing foreign-held assets of Russian companies and organizations.

The EU has blocked seven Russian and three Belarusian banks from the SWIFT global financial messaging system. Some international payment networks and mobile payment providers have suspended certain Russian financial institutions' access to their networks or have otherwise limited services in Russia. Notably, payment company PayPal has halted services in Russia, while electronic payment companies Visa, Mastercard, and American Express have suspended operations in Russia. The moves prohibit Mastercard, Visa, and American Express cards issued in Russia from working abroad and foreign-issued Mastercard, Visa, and American Express cards from working in Russia. Western Union has also suspended its operations in Russia and Belarus, reducing options for sending money internationally to or from those countries.

Generalized public fear over the potential impact of strong economic sanctions could prompt shortages of cash at ATMs as citizens attempt to withdraw large quantities of funds, as well as shortages of essential goods due to panic buying.

Russian authorities have imposed countermeasures intended to limit the impact of sanctions, including prohibiting Russian citizens from exiting the country with more than USD 10,000 in foreign currency and capital controls preventing foreign companies from selling Russian assets. Additionally, the sale of foreign currency is banned until Sept. 9. Russian nationals with existing foreign currency accounts may only withdraw up to USD 10,000, in USD only, until Sept. 9.

The Kremlin has announced a list of 50 "unfriendly countries" in response to international sanctions. The list includes all EU countries, Switzerland, the UK, Canada, the US, Australia, Singapore, and Japan; Russian companies will require approval from a special commission to conduct transactions with entities based in these countries. Russian authorities have also banned the export of over 200 products, including telecommunications, agricultural, electrical, and technological equipment. Russian authorities imposed travel bans on several US and Canadian officials March 15, including US President Joe Biden and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Several governments, including the UK, have banned Russian-connected ships from their seaports; various authorities have also seized Russian-owned vessels.

Nearly 300 international companies have ceased or significantly reduced operations in Russia due to sanctions or in protest over the Kremlin's decision to invade, including retail, shipping, and telecommunications companies. Authorities in the UK, EU, and US have also prohibited the export of certain luxury items. This will likely result in a reduction in available goods and services across Russia. Russian authorities have threatened companies that do pull out of the country with asset seizure and the arrest of employees in Russia who are critical of the government's actions.

Authorities in the US have banned the import of Russian oil, gas, and coal products. Officials in the UK have stated they would phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2022, and EU officials have asserted they will aim to reduce imports of Russian gas by two-thirds by 2023. The measures will likely result in increased fuel prices in those regions.

The EU has prohibited two notable Russia-owned media organizations from broadcasting within the bloc. Authorities in Russia have suspended several independent Russian media organizations and restricted access to international media companies for reporting on the invasion outside of government-approved parameters. Reports suggest Russian authorities are limiting access to several popular social media sites. The Duma has also passed laws making the spread of what authorities deem to be false information punishable by 15 years' imprisonment.

Anti-Western Sentiment
In the coming days, heightened anti-Western sentiment is possible in Russia and Belarus in reaction to the international response to the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine. While there is currently no increased direct security threat to Western or other foreign nationals in Russia or Belarus, isolated incidents of low-level harassment are possible. A potential rise in anti-Western sentiment could also result in increased scrutiny, harassment, or coercion of foreign nationals by border guards, police, and other officials. The frequency of such incidents could increase depending on the severity of any Western economic sanctions.

Advice

Confirm flight status with carriers; do not check out of accommodations until onward travel is confirmed. Avoid nonessential travel to affected border regions; defer travel to Ukraine. Exercise heightened vigilance at public gathering places in major urban areas. Heed authorities' instructions; remain calm and cooperative if questioned by law enforcement officers. Carry proper identification, including a passport with a current Russian or Belarusian visa if one is required. Prepare for disruptions to card payments in Russia. Ensure alternative payment methods are available. Refrain from discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine or other politically sensitive topics, including on social media services.

Resources

European Union Aviation Safety Agency
French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications
UK Travel Advice Russia
US Embassy in Russia