Image shows empty airspace over Ukraine and its border with Russia

(CNN) — Airspace over Ukraine and its border with Russia is empty, according to flight tracking websites, with heavy air traffic apparently avoiding the region as night falls (local time) in the region on Thursday.

ADS-B Exchange images show no aircraft over Ukraine, although the open source site is unable to show tracking data for aircraft operating in the area with location broadcast intentionally turned off.

Civilian flights over Ukraine, as well as Moldova to the south and parts of Russia, are currently restricted. A notice for pilots reads: “Ukrainian airspace is closed for civil aviation flights due to the military invasion of the Russian Federation.”

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warned this Thursday that “the presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and air warfare systems poses a HIGH risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and levels. Of flight”.

There are risks in flying over conflict zones, as illustrated by the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine by a missile, killing 298 people. Western officials and a Dutch-led investigation said Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible for the incident; Putin has denied it.