The United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated Pobeda (DP, Moscow Sheremetyevo) for allegedly importing US-origin aircraft parts in violation of US sanctions, including through cooperation with Iran's Mahan Air (W5, Tehran Mehrabad).
The low-cost subsidiary of Aeroflot Group "is heavily reliant on sanctions evasion and procurement networks to obtain G7-origin aircraft parts. In 2023, Pobeda also imported and carried over USD1 million of US-origin, BIS-identified components, including from US-designated entities A T S Heavy Equipment and Machinery Spare Parts Trading, Crynofist Aviation FZCO [both based in the UAE], Alpha Visit Shop Dis Ticaret Limited [Türkiye], and Polarstar Logistics LLC [UAE]. These entities have all previously supplied Russia-based end-users with controlled aviation components," the American regulator outlined.
"Additionally, Pobeda has operated as a known consignee for the transportation of aircraft parts from India to Russia as recently as January 2024 through its continued cooperation with US-sanctioned entity, Iran-based Mahan Air."
Under Russia-related General Licence 95, foreign suppliers have been given until June 30, 2024, to wind down all of their transactions with Pobeda.
The LCC is the first of the three Aeroflot Group carriers (alongside Aeroflot and Rossiya) to be designated by OFAC. It operates a fleet of forty-two B737-800s.
The US Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) already sanctioned Pobeda in June 2022 for the continuing operation of US aircraft in violation of sanctions imposed in February of that year. However, while the BIS sanctions pertain specifically to export privileges and ban designated companies from buying any US-origin components, the new OFAC sanctions are broader and pertain to any transactions with the sanctioned company, or facilitation of them.
