Zelensky Says Russian Airspace Is No Longer Safe for Passenger Planes

Fact-check index: 58/100 — The core reported claims from Zelensky and the BBC/Independent are accurately conveyed, but several supporting details (Western carrier avoidance since 2022, the MH17 death toll, the 'no civilian aircraft struck' claim, and the causal framing of Russia's retaliation) are not established by the supplied source material.

• Zelensky said airlines and passengers should treat Russian airspace as 'completely unsafe' — Matches The Independent headline: 'Zelensky declares Russian airspace "completely unsafe" in warning to airlines and passengers,' cited.
• Ukraine has escalated deep-strike drone operations inside Russian territory — Matches BBC headline: 'Zelensky says airlines should avoid Russian airspace as Ukraine escalates drone operations.'
• Russia has said it will intensify its own attacks on Ukraine in response — BBC snippet confirms 'Russia says it will intensify its own attacks on Ukraine,' but source uses 'Meanwhile,' not an explicit causal 'in response' link, which the article adds.
• Chinese and Gulf state airlines are among the carriers still flying through Russian airspace — Directly matches BBC snippet: 'Chinese and Gulf state airlines are among those still using Russian airspace.'
• Most Western carriers have avoided Russian skies since Moscow's full-scale invasion began in 2022 — Not stated anywhere in the provided BBC or Independent excerpts; plausible general knowledge but uncited here.
• Any strike on a civilian jet would draw in the airline's home country, insurers and international regulators — Analytical claim in the 'Why it matters' section with no supporting citation in the source material.
• Echoes the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, in which 298 people died over separatist-held eastern Ukraine — Historically accurate detail but not contained in or supported by the supplied BBC/Independent excerpts; introduced by the article itself.
• No civilian aircraft has yet been struck in this war — Not addressed in the provided source snippets.
• Most major carriers already avoid Russian airspace — Consistent with the BBC's contrast implied by naming Chinese/Gulf carriers as exceptions, but not explicitly stated as 'most major carriers avoid it' in the excerpt provided.
• Whether Chinese or Gulf carriers alter routing, and whether ICAO or national authorities issue fresh advisories — Forward-looking speculation by the article's 'What to watch' section; not sourced to BBC or Independent content given.