Bulgaria closes its airspace to Russian aircraft

Passenger airlinerMOSCOW, Feb 26 Bulgaria is closing its airspace to Russian aircraft, the country's transport ministry said in a statement «Bulgaria imposes a ban on takeoff/landing and entry of Russian aircraft into the country's airspace,» the statement said. According to the statement, the ban comes into force on Saturday at 00.00 local time (01.00 Moscow time). The statement notes that these measures were taken «as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine.» On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, which had declared their independence from Kyiv back in 2014, and early in the morning on February 24, Russia began military operation to demilitarize Ukraine. In a televised address to fellow citizens, Putin said that circumstances “require decisive and immediate action,” as the Donbass republics asked for help. According to the Russian leader, the entire responsibility for the bloodshed will be on the conscience of the ruling regime in Ukraine. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, on the evening of February 25, the Russian army disabled 211 military infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, including 17 command posts and communication centers, 19 anti-aircraft missile S-300 and Osa air defense systems, shot down six combat aircraft, a helicopter and five drones. In addition, according to the Russian military department, 67 Ukrainian tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 16 multiple rocket launchers, 87 units of special military vehicles were destroyed. Russia will limit the use of airspace for the UKPosted: Emil Kalimullin