Kiev bans Russia's flagship airline from flying to Ukraine

Russia's flagship airline Aeroflot has received a notification from Kiev banning it from flying to Ukraine, local media reported Monday.

"We can confirm that we received the letter from the Ukrainian authorities to terminate flights by Aeroflot to Ukraine from Oct. 25 on," Russia's TASS news agency quoted an unnamed spokesman for the airline as saying.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk announced Friday that Kiev has decided to impose a ban on Russian airlines from flying to Ukraine starting from Oct. 25.

• Russian transit planes were also prohibited from flying within Ukrainian airspace if they carried military goods, dual-purpose equipment and military personnel, according to Yatsenyuk.

The ban came after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree earlier this month to impose sanctions on 388 Russian individuals and 105 companies, including 25 airlines, for their alleged assistance to insurgents in Ukraine's eastern regions.

Kiev has repeatedly blamed Moscow for inciting the conflict in Lugansk and Donetsk regions, where rebels are demanding independence.

However, Russia has denied the charges, saying the accusations are groundless.
  Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
28/9/15
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Related:

• Ukraine bans Russian airlines as part of war sanctions ...

• Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a new military doctrine on Thursday naming Russia as the main military threat to Ukraine, according to a statement on the presidential website....

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