Russia is systematically relying on civil aviation for the transport of troops, weapons, and components, according to an investigation by Dallas Analytics. In doing so, Russia is compensating for a crisis in its military transport aviation caused by sanctions and a shortage of spare parts.
Military aircraft require separate diplomatic clearances to enter foreign airspace, which are easily traceable. Civil aircraft, by contrast, operate under standard aviation procedures and can more easily obtain access to foreign airspace and airports. By transferring part of its fleet to the civil registry and repainting aircraft in standard commercial liveries, the Russian military uses key transit hubs in the UAE, Turkey, and African countries, disguising military transport operations as “civilian charter flights.”
Alongside state-operated aircraft, Russia is also engaging commercial cargo airlines, Dallas Analytics experts note. For example, according to customs documents, Aviacon Zitotrans transported cargo from Russian defence enterprises to China. It also delivered equipment from Uganda to Russia’s Almaz-Antey conglomerate, which produces surface-to-air missile systems and air and missile defence systems.
The full-scale war against Ukraine has accelerated the systemic integration of civilian cargo aircraft into Russia’s military sphere. Private Russian cargo carriers have become a key link in supply chains for sanctioned manufacturers of military equipment and ammunition.
According to analysts, civilian aircraft regularly conduct “shadow” charter flights with their tracking systems disabled. The main hubs for procurement and transshipment of sanctioned goods for Russia are the UAE and Turkey. At the same time, South Africa allows Russian aircraft to land and refuel.
Experts stress that sanctions targeting individual companies are no longer sufficient. “Western policymakers must escalate from targeting the aircraft to systematically sanctioning the foreign infrastructure that keeps them airborne. This requires the aggressive application of secondary sanctions against ground handlers, aviation fuel suppliers, and civil aviation authorities in transit hubs across the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa,” the report states.