France, Austria ban Russia from airspace

France declared on Sunday that it is banning Russian aircraft and airlines from its airspace after a number of European countries decided to do the same. French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said the measure will take effect “this evening.”

Austrian Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology Leonore Gewessler stated her country will close its airspace at 3 pm CET. “Aircraft registered in Russia, owned or chartered by Russian citizens will no longer be allowed to enter Austrian airspace or land at Austrian airports,” she explained, adding that “we have always said very clearly: we will respond to the Russian invasion consistently and resolutely. The airspace closure is an important part of that response.”