Moscow — Russia's aviation authority has extended the ban on flights to 11 airports in the south of the country, plus the annexed Crimean Peninsula.

The airports in Russia are located in the Black Sea resort of Anapa, in Rostov-on-Don and in the major city of Krasnodar, among other places.

The airports of Gelendzhik, Voronezh and Simferopol on the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which was captured in 2014, are also still affected by airspace restrictions.

The flight ban at the airports is now due to last until at least March 26, the aviation authority Rosaviazija said.

Air traffic is continuing to the popular tourist city of Sochi on the Black Sea.

Russia had initially closed the airports until March 2 after the invasion of nearby Ukraine on February 24. Later, the flight ban was extended until March 14 and most recently until March 20.

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