Russia bans all UK flights to and over the country in retaliation for a British block on Aeroflot

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Russia's Civil Aviation Authority has banned all UK flights to and over the country.

It comes after Boris Johnson announced a block on any aircraft from Russia's largest airline from entering the country in response to Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine.

Mr Johnson said he was sanctioning "all the major manufacturers that support Putin's war machine," which included a ban on Aeroflot from touching down planes in the UK and freezing the assets of all major Russian banks.

READ MORE:Hundreds including Man City star turn out for Ukraine vigil

There will now be a ban on all Aeroflot flights within the UK both entering and exiting the nation.

In retaliation, Russia's Civil Aviation Authority have now announced a ban on all flights from the UK to and over the country from today (Friday, 25 February).

Manchester United, who had been sponsored by Aeroflot and provided planes by the airline since 2013, also appear to have ended their relationship with the company, the Mirror reports.

The club did not use Aeroflot for their midweek Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid for the first leg of their Round of 16 tie.

Rosaviatsiya, the The Federal Agency for Air Transport in Russia, confirmed that all flights by UK carriers to Russia as well as transit flights have now been banned.

It said the measure was taken in response to the "unfriendly decisions" by the British authorities.

The response is the first of what are expected to be a series of counter sanctions by President Vladimir Putin.

Appearing on breakfast television this morning, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he believes that "further financial restrictions" against Russia are still needed.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Sir Keir said he supported the