The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has expanded its list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) in relation to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, adding aircraft manufacturer UZGA (Russian Federation) (Ekaterinburg) and cargo carrier Aviacon Zitotrans (ZR, Ekaterinburg).
UZGA (Ural Civil Aviation Works) is an Ekaterinburg-based manufacturer indirectly owned by the government-owned industrial holding Rostec. Contrary to other domestic aircraft manufacturers, it is not a part of the UAC United Aircraft Corporation. It is currently developing the LMS-901 Baikal, a regional turboprop designed as Russia's response to the Cessna (single turboprop) C208 and PC-12. The manufacturer has been under EU sanctions since mid-December 2022.
In turn, Aviacon Zitotrans is a privately-owned cargo carrier which operates five Il-76TDs. OFAC also specifically designated four of these five aircraft: RA-76502 (msn 1003401004), RA-76842 (msn 1033418616), RA-76846 (msn 93497936), and RA-78765 (msn 83486590). Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows that the quartet are active and operate primarily within Russia and to Tianjin in China, but have also been deployed to Central Asia, India, Türkiye, the Middle East, and Africa in recent weeks. The fifth Aviacon Zitotrans Il-76TD, RA-76807 (msn 1013405176), is also active. The airline purportedly operates on behalf of the Russian military but is not specifically sanctioned by the EU.
OFAC also designated Bombardier Global 6000 S5-SAD (msn 9553) allegedly operated on behalf of sanctioned oligarch Sergei Adonev.
Washington also sanctioned Denis Manturov, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Trade and Industry, who directly supervises Rostec and thus the entire Russian aircraft manufacturing industry. Manturov is also the chairman of UAC.
