Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Sunday slammed the Ukrainian government's decision to ban Russian airlines from flying to Ukraine, describing it as an action of shooting itself in the foot.
"Flights by all Russian airlines to Ukraine have been banned on the Ukrainian government's initiative. This is another example of the struggle of the Ukrainian authorities against their own people," Medvedev wrote in his Facebook account.
Kiev decided on September 25 to impose a ban on Russian airlines from flying to Ukraine starting from October 25, Xinhua reported.
The ban came after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree earlier last month to impose sanctions on 388 Russian individuals and 105 companies, including 25 airlines, for their alleged assistance to insurgents in Ukraine's eastern regions.
Kiev has repeatedly blamed Moscow for inciting the conflict in the east Ukrainian city of Lugansk and Donetsk regions, where rebels are demanding independence.
However, Russia has denied the charges, saying the accusations are groundless.
