"As of today, we have not received an official explanation or formal ban from Ukraine, but as soon as we get it, we will introduce retaliatory measures, and two Ukrainian airlines will not be allowed to fly to Russia as well," Sokolov said in an interview with the "Vesti v Subbotu" (Saturday News) television program.
He noted that about 70 percent of the passengers who flew from Russia to Ukraine and backward were citizens of Ukraine and often used Moscow as a transit point to Europe and other countries of the world.
"By this measure, Ukrainian authorities drive in, first of all, its citizens in such transport isolation, even inside Europe, because it will seriously reduce the mobility of passengers, mobility of Ukrainian citizens," Sokolov stressed.
He added that the move would lead not only to the Russian companies’ losses, but also cause a significant damage to the aviation business in Ukraine.
"If such a situation develops sequentially, owing to the Ukrainian authorities, it will result in complete degradation of air service [in Ukraine] in the long run," the minister outlined.
Earlier in September, the Ukraine authorities included 25 Russian airlines and dozens of Russian banks, state TV channels, a number of companies, as well as individuals on its sanctions list.
