The European Union has added several well-known names from the Russian commercial aviation industry to an updated list of sanctions due to their participation or support in Russia’s invasion and occupation of Ukraine.
The revised list was announced on June 24, 2024, and features Ekaterinburg-based Ural Airlines, one of Russia’s largest airlines, air logistics company Volga-Dnepr, and airport operator Novaport.
Several top managers and prominent shareholders at the Volga-Dnepr Group have also been included in the list of sanctioned individuals on account of the services the air freight operator provides to the Russian government and war industry.
The cargo airline was also added to the UK sanctions list on June 13, 2024.
As of June 2024, the Volga-Dnepr Group operates a fleet of 22 large cargo aircraft, including 12 Antonov An-124 “Ruslan”, five Boeing 747-8F and five IL-76TD-90VD aircraft.
Ural Airlines has an all-Airbus fleet of 52 aircraft, including one A320 that has been stranded in a field in Siberia since September 2023 after performing an emergency landing.
Novaport Holding has been sanctioned because some of the airports in its network have dual civilian-military use and have serviced aircraft operating flights to Simferopol International Airport (SIP) in Crimea. Novaport manages 23 airport facilities across Russia.
While included on the sanctions list, EU member states may freeze any funds belonging to or linked to the designated entities and individuals and forbid engaging in transactions with them or making economic resources available to them.
Canada and the United States have also recently sanctioned Russian low-cost airline and Aeroflot subsidiary Pobeda.