From May 2022 to June 2023, Russian airlines, despite Western sanctions, purchased components for Airbus and Boeing aircraft worth more than $1.2 billion, according to a Reuters investigation.
The publication analyzed the data Russian customs and found out that domestic airlines, with the help of intermediaries, purchased landing gear, displays for pilots, coffee makers, seats and other items for aircraft. Companies in Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, China and other countries helped to circumvent sanctions.
At the same time, Reuters notes, before the war, Russian airlines preferred to place orders with large companies, but after the invasion they began to cooperate with lesser-known firms.
Thus, according to the publication, S7 Airlines is now purchasing spare parts from the Moldovan company Air Rock Solutions, although earlier the airlines cooperated with the German company Lufthansa Technik. Nordwind, owned by Karina Boukrei, is acquiring parts from Turkish airline Ramses Turizm, which is linked to Boukrey's husband Ramazan Akpınar.
In May, the New York Times reported that two Russians were detained in the United States suspected of involvement in the supply of parts Russian airlines in circumvention of sanctions. According to investigators, the supply of equipment, including expensive braking systems for the Boeing-737 aircraft, was carried out through a network of companies in the United States, Turkey and Russia.
After the start of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the United States and other countries restricted Russia access to aircraft parts and other products needed for warfare. Boeing and Airbus also suspended deliveries of spare parts to Russia and ceased maintenance and support of Russian airlines.