Europe: Russian authorities extend flight restrictions at airports close to Ukraine, including in Russian-annexed Crimea, until at least Aug. 11 /update 74

Event

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) has extended the suspension of flight operations at ten airports in southwestern parts of the country and at one airport in Russian-annexed Crimea until at least 03:45 MSK Aug 11. Impacted facilities include Anapa Airport (AAQ), Belgorod International Airport (EGO), Bryansk International Airport (BZK), Elista International Airport (ESL), Gelendzhik Airport (GDZ), Krasnodar International Airport (KRR), Kursk Vostochny Airport (URS), Lipetsk Airport (LPK), Rostov-on-Don Airport (RVI), and Voronezh International Airport (VOZ) in Russia, in addition to Simferopol International Airport (SIP) in Russian-annexed Crimea. The measure was previously slated to expire Aug. 5.

Conflict-related sanctions and travel restrictions continue to cause disruptions in Europe and Russia as of Aug. 3.

Airspace Closures
The airspace of numerous countries remains closed to all Russian aircraft and flights. Russia has implemented reciprocal bans from Russian airspace for airlines operated by those countries, including EU member nations, the UK, Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan. In addition, several airlines not necessarily impacted by the national airspace closures have decided to partially or fully suspend services using Russian airspace.

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 an advisory regarding the airspace around the Belarus-Ukraine and Russia-Ukraine borders. These restrictions are in addition to those imposed on Belarus by Western governments and airlines after Belarusian authorities forced a flight between Greece and Lithuania to divert to Minsk under false pretences in May 2021 to arrest a dissident Belarusian journalist. The EU has banned overflights of their airspace by Belarusian airlines and numerous airlines are avoiding Belarusian airspace or have suspended overflights of Belarus as of Aug. 3. Finally, Ukrainian airspace remains closed to all commercial air traffic.

Russian Travel Restrictions
In addition to the abovementioned airport closures, Russia has also scrapped the simplified visa process available for diplomats and journalists from the EU, Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Holders of diplomatic passports from these countries must obtain a visa to enter Russia.

Travel Warnings
Several governments, including those of the US, France, the UK, Australia, and Canada, have issued travel advisories calling on their nationals to avoid travel to Russia and for those within that country to depart by commercial means when it is safe to do so.

Additionally, multiple governments have expelled numerous Russian diplomats on various grounds, including espionage and other national security concerns. Moscow typically retaliates in a similar fashion. Most recently, Russian authorities expanded the list of so-called "unfriendly nations" that have joined sanctions against Moscow and are considered hostile. The list now includes the Bahamas, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man. Russian authorities will restrict the number of local staff employed at these nations' diplomatic missions in Russia. Such tit-for-tat moves may reduce available consular services in each country, though core services will likely be maintained while diplomatic missions remain open.

Heightened Security and General Disruptions
The terror threat in Russia's Bryansk Oblast remains "high" (yellow) as of Aug. 1. Authorities occasionally increase the terror threat in other regions bordering Ukraine, including the Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh, and Rostov oblasts; however, no terror threat warnings are currently active in these regions. Authorities in Simferopol, in Russian-annexed Crimea, announced a “high” (yellow) terror threat in the city on July 31 following an alleged Ukrainian drone attack; it is unclear when the warning will expire. Ukraine has not claimed the incident. The "yellow" terror threat is the middle level on a three-tier scale where "increased" (blue) is the lowest level and "critical" (red) is the highest. Authorities have not offered official justifications for the high terror threat level; however, Ukrainian saboteurs are believed to be active in border areas, and several incidents could be attributed to them. Additionally, cross-border artillery shelling occasionally strikes border villages in the Kursk and Bryansk oblasts, often in response to artillery fire from Russia.

Several countries sharing borders with Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia have implemented heightened security. Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, and Lithuania have enacted states of emergency. Nevertheless, Moldova, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland are all keeping their borders with Ukraine open and are receiving refugees.

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

Since late April, authorities in Moldova have increased security nationwide following a series of security incidents, including explosions and shootings, in the breakaway Transnistria region. Separatist officials in Transnistria also briefly increased the enclave's terror threat level.

Sanctions
As part of the sixth package of sanctions, EU authorities have agreed to ban 90 percent of Russian oil imports by the end of 2022. The ban targets oil delivered by tankers; the southern segment will still deliver oil of the Russian Druzhba pipeline to Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic until the end of 2024. The EU also banned additional Russian state-owned broadcasters and cut off additional Russian banks from the SWIFT international payments system, including the nation's largest financial institution, Sberbank.

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. However, foreign nationals seeking to leave Russia or Belarus, or Russians and Belarusians seeking to leave European nations, are unlikely to face administrative obstacles. Shortages of essential goods due to panic buying are possible.

Aside from governmental sanctions, over 750 companies have either suspended or terminated their Russian operations. PayPal has halted services in Russia, while electronic payment companies Visa, Mastercard, and American Express have suspended operations in the country. American Express has also suspended all operations in Belarus. Western Union has suspended its operations in Russia and Belarus.

Russia has stopped supplying natural gas to Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Poland, and Bulgaria. The move came in response to these governments' refusal to accept the Kremlin's demand that so-called "unfriendly nations" pay for gas in rubles. Moscow also continues reducing gas supplies to Germany via Nord Stream 1, reducing gas flows to around 20 percent of usual levels, ostensibly to conduct gas turbine maintenance, as of Aug. 1. Russian authorities may decide to further restrict or entirely cut off natural gas deliveries to other European countries over the coming weeks.

The Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) has halted gas transit through the Sokhranivka gas metering station and the Novopskov gas compressor station, which are both located in Russian-occupied areas. The volume of Russian gas shipped to Europe via Ukraine has subsequently dropped by around one-third.

Maritime Disruptions
Authorities in several countries have issued advisories to mariners concerning the ongoing danger posed to maritime navigation by drifting sea mines, primarily in the Black Sea's Northwest, West, and Southwest sectors. Such mines have been discovered in the coastal waters of Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of releasing mines adrift in the Black Sea.

Civilian vessels generally cannot operate in the northern Black Sea or Sea of Azov; however, a recently signed agreement between Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine will enable some maritime grain shipments from Ukrainian ports. Several civilian vessels have been damaged in the region, including two vessels sunk, and Russian naval forces have allegedly detained at least three others.

Russian vessels and Russian-operated ships are banned from accessing EU, US, and UK ports.

Anti-Western Sentiment
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.

Advice

Confirm flight status with carriers; do not check out of accommodations until onward travel is confirmed. Avoid nonessential travel to affected border regions. Heed authorities' instructions; remain calm and cooperative if questioned by law enforcement officers or other officials. 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, Information Technology and Mass Media
UK Travel Advice Russia