Ukraine's leaders have announced that Kiev's civil airports will be operational again "soon". They see themselves in a position to protect them adequately, because in their own opinion they would have become significantly stronger this year.

Due to the war launched by the Russian Federation, the airspace for civilian aircraft was closed in February 2022. This measure is still ongoing. Now it seems that people in Ukraine have come to the conclusion - also with a view to the situation in Israel - that they are in a position to at least adequately secure the Kiev airports.

Andriy Yermak, chief of staff of the Ukrainian president, gave a speech to foreign diplomats at Borispil airport in this regard. It is the larger of the two Kiev airports. Zhuliany, officially “Kiev International Airport”, is significantly smaller and is located within the city area.

It is currently still completely unclear which of the two airports will go back online first. However, it is quite likely that it will be Borispil, as it is somewhat remote and the approach routes do not lead low over the capital. In any case, the government is of the opinion that the flights can be adequately secured and sees the opening, which has not yet been announced, as a “return to elements of peace”.

However, Yermak soon qualified his own statements because he immediately followed up his euphoric announcement that the civilian airports would be reopened “as soon as the situation permits.” In general, it is questionable whether there would be airlines that would set course for Kiev under the current conditions. It should not be underestimated that even before the Russian military attack, numerous insurers withdrew coverage for Ukraine due to the acute risk of war. The state is still at war, so it would be complicated for airlines to find an insurance company that is willing to cover the high risk of being attacked.