Members of Russia’s affluent class are utilizing Canadian-manufactured luxury aircraft, despite sanctions on the country’s aviation sector, as per investigations by CBC’s visual unit. Russian import data revealed that 34 business and commercial jets from Canada found their way to Russia post the Ukraine invasion in February 2022. Notable figures like sanctioned oligarch Igor Kesaev and Sergey Shishkarev, a close associate of President Vladimir Putin, were involved in importing these jets. Additionally, Russian airlines offering charter services also brought in some of these aircraft.
Experts highlighted that Russia circumvents sanctions by exploiting loopholes, utilizing middlemen in countries sympathetic to their cause like Oman and Kyrgyzstan. This practice has allowed the country to acquire aircraft components and even entire jets, evading Western restrictions. Despite concerns raised by international observers, little action has been taken to impede these transactions.
Bombardier, the aircraft manufacturer, refrained from commenting on the specific planes, emphasizing that they were sold on the secondary market without the company’s direct involvement and assured compliance with the imposed sanctions.
Following Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, the EU, U.S., and Canada imposed sanctions on aircraft exports to Russia, impacting its predominantly Western aircraft-dependent aviation sector. Despite this, reports indicate that over $1 billion worth of aircraft and components were still brought into the country. Recent arrests in the U.S. of individuals involved in illicit aircraft parts export schemes to Russia underscore the challenges in enforcing sanctions.
In a notable case, a Bombardier Global Express jet was imported into Russia by Delo Group, owned by Sergey Shishkarev, via a route from Australia to Moscow through Oman. Oman has emerged as a key transfer hub for Russian goods, including oil, and serves as part of a network facilitating re-exports to Russia.
The investigations further revealed the involvement of individuals like Igor Kesaev, a Russian oligarch with ties to the country’s security forces, in importing Canadian aircraft. Kesaev, worth $4.5 billion according to Forbes, faced sanctions for his role in supporting the Russian government’s actions in Crimea and Ukraine. Despite being sanctioned, Kesaev managed to import a Bombardier jet in 2023, showcasing the challenges in enforcing restrictions on the Russian elite.
The investigations also unveiled a complex network of entities facilitating the entry of these aircraft into Russia, involving multiple countries and individuals under scrutiny for their connections to sanctioned entities. The intricate web of transactions and transfers highlights the difficulties in monitoring and controlling the movement of aircraft into sanctioned territories.
If you have any information or insights on this topic, please contact Eric Szeto at eric.szeto@cbc.ca.