The unwelcome aircraft: Russia’s Il-96 forced into 9-hour detour to reach Geneva
February 19, 2026
Closed battlespace skies over Ukraine and parts of Russia, coupled with partially closed European skies, forced a diplomatic Russian Ilyushin Il-96 to fly a circuitous route to Switzerland for talks.
Why Russia’s Il-96 took a circuitous route to Geneva
Tracing the path that Russian aircraft are forced to take to avoid closed European airspace has become something of a meme and symbol of Russia’s geopolitical isolation.
Russian aircraft are banned from using European Union airspace. However, this Rossiya Special Flight Detachment was granted special clearance to attend a diplomatic mission in Switzerland. But having clearance from Italy doesn’t mean it can fly over any European airspace.
Yesterday, a Russian government Ilyushin Il-96-300 (RA-96018) was seen flying from Moscow south in an arc to avoid warzone Russian airspace near Ukraine.
It then flew across the eastern Black Sea, across Turkey, and then south through the Mediterranean Sea before turning west, circling around Greek airspace in the Mediterranean.
The jet then flew towards Italy, arriving at the toe of Italy, flying up the peninsula to Geneva in Switzerland, briefly crossing into French airspace as Geneva is on the border with France.
Given the circumstances, the only part of the flight path a little odd is that it avoided Greek airspace. Judging from the flight path, it can be assumed Greece did not join Italy and France in exempting the aircraft. The exemptions were the minimum needed to allow the aircraft to reach Geneva.
According to FlightRadar24, the aircraft departed Moscow on the 16th of February (Flight RSD150) with a nine-hour and 13-minute flight time. It returned to Moscow (Flight RSD494) with a reduced flight time of six hours and 40 minutes.
A direct flight from Moscow to Geneva would typically take around 3.5 hours.
As expected, the talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the US in Geneva ended without any breakthrough.
👀👀👀
— MAKS 25 🇺🇦👀 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) June 27, 2023
A government aircraft Il-96 flies from Moscow to Washington… pic.twitter.com/ikdKJ5KE9Y
Reuters reported, “peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva had been difficult but business-like, and that a new round of talks would be held soon.”
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Ukrainian and adjacent Russian airspace closed
Regardless of having clearance in Europe, no such aircraft will approach anywhere near Ukrainian airspace from Russia. Since the start of the war, Ukraine’s airspace and adjacent Russian airspace (e.g., Rostov, Belgorod) have been closed to all air traffic other than military aircraft.
Any diplomatic missions going to Ukraine land in Poland and then take the train to Kyiv. This applies to all, even former US President Biden, when he visited Kyiv in 2023.
A very rare exception came in 2025, when a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 Ruslan was flown to safety. The aircraft had survived Russian air attacks, but was stuck at the start of the war, unable to fly. It made its surprise getaway from Ukraine after 3.5 years of repairs, flying to Germany’s Leipzig.
Sometimes airspace restrictions extend to Europeans
The airspace restrictions are sometimes extended to Europeans flying to Russia, who are seen as undermining Europe’s position. Poland and the Baltic states are particularly hawkish in this regard.
Flight route of Slovak Prime Minister Fico to Moscow after Baltic states ban his overflight pic.twitter.com/3Q5eOZhfqE
— OnlMaps (@onlmaps) May 9, 2025
For example, last year, Slovakia’s Prime Minister, Robert Fico, announced he was going to attend Russia’s May Day Parade in Moscow. Flying over the war skies of Ukraine is out of the question.
The more direct route would have been north to Poland, then across Belarus to Moscow. However, Poland responded by closing its airspace to the aircraft, forcing him to fly south across the Black Sea, into southern Russia, and up to Moscow.
This also happened to Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić, whose flight path took him all the way to Baku in detour.
Featured Image: Wikimedia Commons
