Ukraine has said it will ban Russian airlines from flying into the country as part of sanctions over Moscow’s support for rebels in the east.
Kiev said the measures would take effect on 25 October and would include major Russian airlines Aeroflot and Transaero, BBC reported.
Russian transit flights will also be banned if the planes carry military personnel or dual-use goods.
Moscow described the move as “an act of madness”, promising firm response.
The flight ban was announced by Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk. “Russian planes with the Russian tricolor have no business in Ukrainian airports,” he said.
Ukraine’s aviation authorities later said the ban would take effect on 25 October.
Last week, Ukraine imposed sanctions against 400 people and 90 legal entities–most of them from Russia–held responsible for Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Responding to Ukraine’s ban announcement, Russian officials said they would be forced to take adequate measures.
Dmirty Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said–that if implemented–such a ban would be “another act of madness”.
