Ukraine’s Largest Airline Fears Retaliatory Sanctions From Russia

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA), the country’s flag carrier and the largest airline, fears retaliatory measures taken by Russia as a result of Kiev’s decision to ban Russian airlines from flying in Ukrainian airspace, the company’s spokesperson Yevheniya Satska told RIA Novosti.

"Our expectations are the most pessimistic… We expect predictable, absolutely logical mirror measures from the Russian Federation. It's clear that UIA, as the country's largest airline, is currently at major risk," Satska said.

On Friday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk's government said it had banned Russian airlines Aeroflot and Transaero from entering Ukrainian air space, effective October 25 as part of its anti-Russian sanctions.

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.

Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said that Russia might take retaliatory measures by closing Russian airspace entirely to Ukraine after what Kiev had done.