Commenting on the move, Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov specifically stressed that Moscow had responded in kind to a flight ban launched by Kiev, which had actually caused it to shoot itself in the foot.
"We understand that in reality, it will stop air service between the two countries. And it is mainly Ukrainian citizens who will suffer. But I want to emphasize that, in the current context, it is the actions of Ukrainian authorities that caused a reaction from the Russian side", he said.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure was echoed by Ukraine's State Air Traffic Service Enterprise, which confirmed that a formal notification on the flight ban has yet to be received from Russia.
On September 28, the Russian transport agency said that it is imposing the ban, which is due to come into force on October 25, in line with relevant instructions from Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev.
The measure comes as a tit-for-tat response to the September 25 decision by Ukrainian authorities to ban Aeroflot, Transaero, and a number of other Russian air companies from flying into Ukraine; Kiev's ban also starts on October 25.
Kyiv is also barring Russian transit flights if the aircraft carries military personnel or dual-use goods. Moscow has branded Kiev's move as an "act of madness." Russia is historically Kiev's key trading partner and Ukrainian economic sectors such as tourism are expected to be heavily affected.
