Direct flights between Russia and Ukraine banned

Up to 70,000 passengers will be affected each month

Passengers will have to travel by train or via other countries (ALEKSANDR PROKOPENKO/AFP/Getty Images)

Direct flights between Russia and Ukraine will be banned on Sunday, as Kiev introduces new sanctions.

While Moscow initially called Kiev's ban on Russian airlines "madness", it soon announced it would mirror the move.

Flights will end at midnight on Saturday, following the collapse of last-minute crisis talks.

Up to 70,000 passengers a month will be affected, the BBC reports.

Russia has argued Ukraine is shooting itself in the foot with the move, suggesting that most passengers are Ukrainian travelling to work in Russia or visiting relatives.

However, two-thirds of all passengers travel on Russian airlines.

The ban highlights how bitter relations remain between the two countries, following Russia's annexation of Crimea and support of armed rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Passengers will have to travel by train or via other countries.