Ukraine informs Russia about flight ban

Ukrainian authorities have informed Russia of a ban on flights to the country starting from October 25, Kiev's state aviation service said on Monday.

"We have informed in a written statement all Russian companies that have been included in the published list," an aviation official said.

Russia's flagship air carrier, Aeroflot, along with 20 other air companies have been blacklisted by the Ukrainian authorities, TASS news agency reported.

These companies were banned, partially or completely, to perform flights to destinations in Ukraine or via Ukraine. The sanctions list includes Aeroflot subsidiaries Rossiya, Donavia, Orenburg Airlines and Transaero, as well as S7 (Sibir, Russia's third air carrier in terms of passenger traffic) and Urals Airlines.

The blacklist also features such air companies Globus, Vim Avia, Kogalymavia, Gazpromavia and Red Wings, all ranked among Russia's top 30.

The special air squadron Rossiya that carries Russia's top officials and the 224th air squadron of the defence ministry is also on the sanctions list.

The ban came after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree earlier this 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.

Russia has repeatedly denied the charges, terming the accusations as baseless.