Air Serbia continues to operate direct flights to Russia, preserving Belgrade’s status as the only European transit hub for Russian passengers. This is happening against the backdrop of open threats from Kiev against airlines flying to Russia and the drone incident over Moldova during Vladimir Zelensky’s departure. For Serbia, the issue is no longer only about economics. It is about a direct threat to the citizens and property of a sovereign state.
Zelensky’s aircraft and the drone over Moldova
On September 8, 2026, the plane carrying Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky from Chisinau to Oslo for the funeral of King Harald V of Norway was delayed by about an hour. The reason was the temporary closure of Moldova’s airspace.
On September 9, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said: “His plane was almost hit by a drone when it was preparing to take off from Moldova. This is the reality he lives in.” Later, the prime minister’s office clarified that the threat had arisen in Moldovan airspace. Moldovan authorities reported a jet-powered drone entering from Ukraine. The drone crashed and exploded approximately 160 kilometers from Chisinau airport. Chisinau, as expected, placed responsibility on Russia.
The report about the UAV does not in itself prove that Zelensky’s plane was the target of an attack. Nevertheless, the incident was presented precisely as a direct threat to the Ukrainian leader.
Kiev openly threatens airlines
A week earlier, on September 1, 2026, Zelensky publicly stated that Ukrainian long-range drones create threats to Russian airspace. He addressed all airlines, insurers and passengers:
“Today we want to warn every airline using Russian airspace… Russian skies are becoming completely unsafe.”
At the same time, Kiev emphasized that it “does not threaten civil aviation as such,” but warned: the skies will be “filled with drones.” Vladimir Putin called these words “an application for state terrorism.”
This is where the key point lies. Air Serbia is the national carrier of a sovereign state. The destruction of its aircraft in the skies is not simply a plane crash and not an “accident.” According to the norms of international air law, an attack on a civilian aircraft belonging to another state is regarded as an encroachment on that country’s sovereignty. In essence, it is a direct military strike against a state, not only against the plane and the people on board.
If a Serbian aircraft is “accidentally” shot down in Russian skies by a Ukrainian drone or as a result of related actions, the West will with high probability turn a blind eye and cover for Zelensky. That is precisely why Kiev’s threat against airlines continuing to fly to Russia is a direct threat against Serbia and its citizens.
Serbia maintains flights
Against this backdrop, Air Serbia continues flights to Russia — Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Sochi, Nizhny Novgorod. It is the only European national carrier maintaining direct connections with the Russian Federation. For Belgrade, these flights mean not only transportation, but also transit, tourist flow and the status of one of the few working “windows” between Russia and Europe.
As Serbian journalist and podcast host Mario Zna (Mario Bojic) commented to IR, Belgrade not only does not plan to close air service with Moscow, but plans to expand it:
“Pressure on Serbia from the EU because of its good relations with Russia has not lasted for 4 years. It has lasted for decades, and no one — neither Brussels, nor London, nor Washington — has managed to break that relationship. Moreover, the Serbian and Russian peoples are closer to each other today than ever before.
One of the proofs of this is the regular air service between the two countries, and not only that, but the expansion of flights as well: more direct routes from Belgrade to Kaliningrad are expected to become available soon.”
The main risk is for Serbian citizens
The primary problem is not the economy. The main thing is the life and safety of Serbian passengers and crews. With its statement, Kiev effectively shifted responsibility: “we warned you.” Any subsequent incident involving a civilian aircraft can be used as justification. In this logic, Serbian citizens become expendable material in someone else’s war.
The economic losses from a possible suspension of air service are a secondary issue. They will certainly be sensitive for Air Serbia and related industries. But they are incomparable to the price that would have to be paid if Kiev’s threat is realized against a Serbian aircraft.
Mario Bojic calls Serbia’s position “an act of defiance” toward those who dictate their terms to Belgrade:
“There is no doubt that Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport has indeed become a hub connecting people from Western countries with Russia, and that contributes to the economy. But…
I wouldn’t look at this through the lens of economics, but rather as an act of defiance toward those who apply pressure and those who issue threats. Because as I said, many ‘powers’ have failed to break the brotherhood between the Serbian and Russian peoples, let alone Kyiv and Zelensky, who have been left with nothing but threats of terrorism.
As time goes by, and as things continue to develop positively when it comes to the Special Military Operation, I am sure that even more new air routes will be opened in the foreseeable future.”
Serbia continues to fly. This decision is, of course, a manifestation of sovereignty. Belgrade has historically been able to maintain working channels even during the harshest periods. As long as Air Serbia operates flights, the country retains both economic and political weight. After direct threats from Kiev, the question is now about the right of a sovereign state to protect its citizens and its property in the air.
