The United States Department of Commerce has added ten more aircraft, including seven operated by Belavia (B2, Minsk National), to its list of aircraft found to be operating to Russia and Belarus in violation of export sanctions.
"New restrictions on Belarusian aircraft were put in place just last Friday [April 8], and less than a week later, we’re already telling the world that servicing specific Belarusian planes is a no go. As US export controls continue to ratchet up given Russia’s continued brutal war in Ukraine, we will continue to swiftly and vigorously enforce them," said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Matthew Axelrod.
The aircraft added to the list, which now totals 153, are:
Belavia:
- B737-300 EW-254PA (msn 26294),
- B737-300 EW-366PA (msn 29058),
- B737-800 EW-455PA (msn 61421),
- B737-800 EW-456PA (msn 31422),
- B737-800 EW-457PA (msn 61423),
- B737-800 EW-527PA (msn 40877), and
- B737-800 EW-544PA (msn 35139).
Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo):
- B737-800 RA-73105 (msn 44433).
UTair (UT, Khanty-Mansiysk):
- B737-500 RA-73045 (msn 28901) and
- B737-500 RA-73049 (msn 28906).
As the sanctions have been expanded to include Belarus, the US administration has cancelled a licence exemption for the export of aircraft to the country. As such, the sale of any aircraft which has more than 25% of US-made parts to Belarus now requires specific clearance from the US Department of Commerce. Previous versions of the list only covered aircraft operated by Russian airlines.
The Department has also removed two aircraft from the list to permit their ferry out of Russia on return to the lessors. This concerns:
- Azur Air (ZF, Krasnoyarsk Yemelyanovo): B777-300(ER) VQ-BTK (msn 35302), which has been parked at Dubai International since March 7, 2022, and
- Nordwind Airlines (N4, Moscow Sheremetyevo): B777-300(ER) VP-BJR (msn 37136), which has been parked at México City International since March 9.
The Department has also updated entries for 32 aircraft operated by Aeroflot to reflect their presumed illegal re-registration in Russia.
The provision of any services (including refuelling, handling, maintenance, or air navigation services) or parts for US government-embargoed aircraft can be considered a violation of US sanctions on Russia or Belarus and can therefore result in sanctions on the service- or goods-provider, regardless of their whereabouts. The listing has no impact on the aircraft as long as they operate solely within Russia and Belarus and potentially other friendly countries.
