Russia condemns Ukrainian forces' use of Kazakhstan's airspace for drone flights

MOSCOW

The Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday expressed strong concern over the use of Kazakhstan’s airspace by Ukrainian drones to carry out strikes on Russian territory.

According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, on June 19 and 20, several dozen Ukrainian drones were recorded flying over the territory of the West Kazakhstan region, "apparently with the aim of launching strikes in Russia."

Zakharova condemned the actions as a violation of Kazakhstan's sovereignty, emphasizing Russia's alliance with Kazakhstan through the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

"Its (Ukraine's) leaders, who are so greedy for ranting about the territorial integrity of Ukraine, are indifferent to the territorial integrity of other countries, which they are increasingly violating," she said.

The official urged the international community to take note of the airspace violation and respond accordingly.

Russia also called on other governments and international bodies to address what it views as Ukraine's provocations and to reinforce measures that support collective regional security.

Zakharova asserted that recent events underscore the growing risks posed by Ukraine to other countries and the need for enhanced cooperation within the CSTO framework.

"It is absolutely obvious that the criminal regime of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, fostered by the NATO forces, poses an increasingly real and serious threat not only to Russia but also to the countries with which Kyiv is verbally trying to build a constructive dialogue," she said.