Despite strict Western sanctions on Russia, spare parts for the world’s biggest airline manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, have continued arriving in the country in large quantities.
However, both companies insist they have complied with the sanctions.
The sanctions were a reaction to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But an Yle investigation of international customs data found that Russia has imported almost one billion euros worth of aircraft parts since the sanctions came into force.
In the hope of grounding Russia’s civilian aviation fleets, the EU and US explicitly banned the export of aircraft parts to Russia. But Moscow has managed to circumvent the restrictions to keep its airliners in the sky.
The imported parts include engines and electronic systems with potential military use, like communications equipment, radar and other technology.
Route through third countries
Yle’s investigation focused on aircraft parts made by the European firm Airbus and the US-based aviation manufacturer Boeing. According to import records, Russia has been sourcing spare airliner parts via third countries outside of the sanctions.
According to these records, Russia has imported almost 600 million euros worth of spare Airbus parts and nearly 400 million euros of Boeing parts. They were imported via countries including Turkey, China and — particularly — the United Arab Emirates. A number of the companies behind those imports have since been included on Western sanctions lists.
Both companies declined Yle’s request for an interview, but issued separate statements about the matter.
Airbus’ statement
“Airbus complies with all relevant laws and sanctions regarding Russia.”
“Russia falls under US export control regulations banning the sale of aircraft, spare parts and documentation. In addition the EU has imposed its own sanctions preventing the sale of aircraft, spare parts, tech data, provision of services or any support associated with any Russian carrier including any non-Russian carriers with aircraft destined to be used in Russia.”
“There is no legal method for aircraft, parts, documentation or services to be exported into Russia. In regards to spares, Airbus can keep track of genuine parts and documentation and can specify end user commitments (ie – part can only be used for specific airline and aircraft MSN [Manufacturer’s Serial Number], however there is no method for OEMs [Original Equipment Manufacturer] to police non genuine parts, documentation and services,” the company stated.
Boeing’s statement
“In early 2022, Boeing suspended providing parts, maintenance and technical support for customers and maintenance service providers in Russia. We continue to adhere to US sanctions and global laws and regulations,” Boeing’s statement read.
Neither company replied to Yle’s follow-up questions.
Yle’s examination of the international customs data found that around 4,000 shipments of Airbus or Boeing parts were sent to Russia between February 2022 and September 2024. More than 360 firms around the world were involved in delivering the shipments. Most exports came from the UAE, Gabon, China and Turkey, with some sending hundreds of shipments and others just a few.
The shipments included spare parts, like new Airbus engines and electronic equipment. Other exports included more common items such as gear for passenger cabins.
The majority of the exports went to Russian civilian airlines. However, many of them are on Western sanctions lists as they generate revenue for President Vladimir Putin’s government. Some of the companies are majority state-owned, which directly links them to the Kremlin.
Russia effectively seized 500 planes
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Russian airlines were operating hundreds of aircraft leased from Western firms. The leasing companies cancelled the contracts after the sanctions went into effect — but the Russian airlines did not return the planes. They effectively seized the aircraft, shifting their ownership to Russia.
UK newspaper The Guardian has estimated that Russia kept around 500 such aircraft, valued at nearly 10 billion euros. However, Russia has denied taking the planes, claiming that the lease cancellations were unjustified and that it is willing to pay for them.
Nearly one-third of the aircraft parts Russia has received since the sanctions were implemented were sent from the UAE, in shipments valued in the hundreds of millions of euros.
The UAE has not imposed sanctions on Russia, which means that local operators are not breaking any laws.
Expert sees safety risks
According to Professor Stephen Wright, Russia remains heavily dependent on Western aircraft parts. Wright is Head of the School of Transport and Civil Engineering at the Technological University Dublin.
He said that Russia has lost ground since the Soviet era, when it was a global leader in aerospace tech, while Western companies have made major strides in civilian aviation.
Although Russia could manufacture its aircraft parts, Wright said it is unlikely that the Russian government would be willing to make the necessary investments to do so.
Russia has seen an uptick in commercial aviation accidents since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Experts have blamed the country’s shortage of genuine spare parts.
While Russia has started manufacturing lower-quality replacement parts as well as acquiring old aircraft to use for spares, Wright warned that the practice could significantly worsen Russia’s aviation safety.