Finland and Denmark are about to close their respective airspaces to Russian aircraft. Belgium is also joining the list of countries that are harboring Russian aircraft.

Finnish Transport Minister Timo Harakka announced the decision via Twitter, where he also attached a Ukrainian flag. It is not clear when it might come into effect.

Finland and Russia share a border of about 1,300 kilometers.

”"We have decided that we will close our Danish airspace to Russian flights, including private flights, as quickly as possible," says Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod, adding that a ban will come into effect sometime on Sunday.

It is important that the EU stands together on this issue, according to Kofod.

Belgium is also closing its airspace to all Russian companies, says Prime Minister Alexander de Croo, according to Belgian media.

A long line European countries have closed or are in the process of closing their respective airspace to Russian overflights. In addition to the above, Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic have also done so, while Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia and Germany have decided to do so.

The decisions entail major restrictions on Russian air traffic.

On the same day that Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland decided not to allow Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin to fly over their countries when he was about to travel, reportedly extending his trip by two and a half hours.

Source: TT