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Russia hits back at Europe over flight ban UK citizens are advised not to travel to Russia
(about 1 hour later)
Russia has banned airlines from 36 countries from using its airspace in a tit-for-tat response to Western sanctions. UK citizens have been advised against travelling to Russia due to a lack of available flights and volatile economy
The country said it would stop flights from nations including Germany, Spain, Italy and Canada. The Foreign Office warned Britons in Russia may now not be able to fly directly to the UK or via EU countries.
Russia had already barred UK airlines from flying to and across the region after Britain banned national airline Aeroflot from landing in the UK. It added the value of the rouble had fallen and there were reports of lots of people "attempting to withdraw their savings from Russian banks".
On Sunday, Europe shut its skies to Russian owned or controlled planes. The advice comes after Russia banned airlines from 36 countries from using its airspace in response to sanctions.
In a tit-for-tat retaliation, the country said it would stop flights from nations including Germany, Spain, Italy and Canada.
On its website, the Foreign Office urged people in Russia to "amend any travel plans accordingly".
It means UK or EU citizens wanting to leave Russia by air would have to travel to a country which has issued any flight or travel sanctions to Russia to then get a flight directly home.
Russia had already barred UK airlines from flying to and across the region after Britain banned Russian airlines, including national airline Aeroflot, from landing in the UK.
The Foreign Office also warned the sharp fall in the Rouble's value many any Russian currency people held "may reduce in value over the coming days" and that foreign nationals in Russia were reported to be having difficulty using ATM and banking services.
Following President Putin's decision to invade Ukraine, there have been several reports of anti-war protests across Russia. There is a heavy police presence to prevent these from taking place.
Europe shuts skies
On Sunday, Europe shut its skies to Russian owned or controlled planes in one of a number of sanctions imposed by Western nations on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
The announcement means all planes, including the private jets of oligarchs, will now be unable to land in, take off from or fly over any EU nation.The announcement means all planes, including the private jets of oligarchs, will now be unable to land in, take off from or fly over any EU nation.
It is one of a number of sanctions imposed by Western nations on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also announced he had told all UK ports to not let any Russian "flagged, registered, owned, controlled, chartered or operated vessels" to have access.
In the UK, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also announced he had told all UK ports to not let any Russian "flagged, registered, owned, controlled, chartered or operated vessels" to have access.
"I've made clear these vessels are not welcome here," he said."I've made clear these vessels are not welcome here," he said.
Today I've written to all UK ports asking them not to provide access to any Russian flagged, registered, owned, controlled, chartered or operated vessels.Given Putin's action in #Ukraine I've made clear these vessels are NOT welcome here with prohibiting legislation to follow. pic.twitter.com/5pKzfvcbGiToday I've written to all UK ports asking them not to provide access to any Russian flagged, registered, owned, controlled, chartered or operated vessels.Given Putin's action in #Ukraine I've made clear these vessels are NOT welcome here with prohibiting legislation to follow. pic.twitter.com/5pKzfvcbGi
On Monday, the Russian aviation regulator, Rosaviatsia, said: "A restriction has been imposed on flights for airlines of 36 countries in accordance with international law as a retaliatory measure for the ban imposed by the European states on the flights of commercial airliners operated by Russian airlines and/or registered in Russia."On Monday, the Russian aviation regulator, Rosaviatsia, said: "A restriction has been imposed on flights for airlines of 36 countries in accordance with international law as a retaliatory measure for the ban imposed by the European states on the flights of commercial airliners operated by Russian airlines and/or registered in Russia."
The measures mean airlines will have to make long detours on some routes, potentially raising the cost of fuel and tickets.The measures mean airlines will have to make long detours on some routes, potentially raising the cost of fuel and tickets.
The countries banned from Russia's airspace are: Albania, Anguilla, Austria, Belgium, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (including Greenland, the Faroe Islands), Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK.The countries banned from Russia's airspace are: Albania, Anguilla, Austria, Belgium, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (including Greenland, the Faroe Islands), Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK.
Swiss International Airlines, which is owned by Germany's Lufthansa, said that it had cancelled flights from Zurich to Moscow despite Switzerland not appearing on Russia's list of banned countries.Swiss International Airlines, which is owned by Germany's Lufthansa, said that it had cancelled flights from Zurich to Moscow despite Switzerland not appearing on Russia's list of banned countries.
A spokesperson for the Swiss airline also said it was not flying through Russian airspace.A spokesperson for the Swiss airline also said it was not flying through Russian airspace.
Swiss is now avoiding Russian airspaceSwiss is now avoiding Russian airspace
It said: "We continue to closely monitor the development of the situation and are in close exchange with the Swiss and international authorities as well as with the Lufthansa Group for our operational decisions."It said: "We continue to closely monitor the development of the situation and are in close exchange with the Swiss and international authorities as well as with the Lufthansa Group for our operational decisions."
Meanwhile, cruise firm Carnival, which owns P&O Cruises as well as Cunard, said it was changing journeys on Baltic cruises.Meanwhile, cruise firm Carnival, which owns P&O Cruises as well as Cunard, said it was changing journeys on Baltic cruises.
The company said it would advise guests of the changes "as soon as possible".The company said it would advise guests of the changes "as soon as possible".
On Monday, Switzerland - traditionally a neutral country and whose banks are believed to hold billions of dollars in Russian funds- said that it would adopt EU financial sanctions against Moscow.On Monday, Switzerland - traditionally a neutral country and whose banks are believed to hold billions of dollars in Russian funds- said that it would adopt EU financial sanctions against Moscow.
The Swiss justice minister, Karin Keller-Sutter, also said it had banned five oligarchs with links to Russia's president Vladimir Putin from entering the country, though declined to name them.The Swiss justice minister, Karin Keller-Sutter, also said it had banned five oligarchs with links to Russia's president Vladimir Putin from entering the country, though declined to name them.
The BBC's correspondent in Geneva, Imogen Foulkes, said: "Make no mistake, this is a huge step for Switzerland, which has often agonised over what being neutral actually means.The BBC's correspondent in Geneva, Imogen Foulkes, said: "Make no mistake, this is a huge step for Switzerland, which has often agonised over what being neutral actually means.
"Today, Swiss president Ignazio Cassis made it clear: the attack on Ukraine was an unacceptable attack on freedom and democracy," she said."Today, Swiss president Ignazio Cassis made it clear: the attack on Ukraine was an unacceptable attack on freedom and democracy," she said.