MOSCOW, December 15 (RAPSI) - Russia's largest air carrier Aeroflot will contest $8 million worth of fines for flights to Crimea issued by the Ukrainian Civil Aviation Service, according to the airline’s Monday post on Twitter.

The Ukrainian Civil Aviation Service issued fines to Russian airlines worth about $17 million in total for flights to Crimea. The Russian Federal Agency for Air Transport claims that the Ukrainian Civil Aviation Service is not authorized to impose fines on Russian airlines that are flying in Russian airspace.

Crimea became Russian territory as a result of a March referendum.

“For flights to Simferopol, the Ukrainian Civil Aviation Service issued about $8 million in fines to Aeroflot. The fines will be disputed in court. The Ukrainian Security Service also opened a criminal case against Aeroflot,” reads the post titled “Final Meeting of Aeroflot Public Council.”  An airline representative failed to specify in which court Aeroflot would contest the fines.

Aeroflot spends an extra $20 million a year to avoid Ukrainian airspace, according to the representative. Plus, the crisis in Ukraine resulted in the termination of Dobrolet, a low-cost airline.

Aeroflot also cited examples of Aeroflot crews not being allowed into Ukraine upon arrival.