Douglas Edward Robertson, 56, of Olathe, Kansas, accepted his part in selling and exporting 鈥渟ophisticated and controlled鈥� avionics equipment to customers in Russia, in breach of US laws put in place following President Vladamir Putin精东影业 invasion of Ukraine in 2022.聽聽

The (DOJ) said Robertson, the former vice president of KanRus Trading Company, circumvented US export laws by falsifying forms and conspired with two other men.聽

鈥淩obertson, by his own admission, conspired to sell advanced U.S. avionics equipment to Russian customers in violation of U.S. law,鈥� Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen, said. 鈥淭he Justice Department will not tolerate those who seek to undermine the effectiveness of export controls that protect critical U.S. technology and deter Russia精东影业 aggression in Ukraine.鈥� 

Robertson admitted between 2020 and 2023, that he, Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky and Oleg Chistyakov from Latvia, smuggled equipment to customers in Russia and other countries by lying about the exports鈥� value, end users and end destinations.聽

Russian Federal Security Service

In one instance, the three men smuggled a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).聽聽

In 2021 an FSB sticker was removed from the system and then repaired in the US before being shipped back out to the Russian security service. 

Robertson admitted that following the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the group shipped avionics equipment through intermediary companies in Armenia, Laos, the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus before finally reaching Russia. 

鈥淭hose who seek to profit by illegally selling sophisticated U.S. technology to our adversaries are putting the national security of our country at risk and that cannot be tolerated,鈥� said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI精东影业 National Security Branch.  

He added: 鈥淚t is appalling that the defendant schemed to smuggle avionics equipment to customers overseas including Russia, a nation engaged in a long-running military conflict with Ukraine.鈥� 

Robertson, who was arrested in March 2023, faces a statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count, 20 years in prison for each of the two Export Control Reform Act counts, and 20 years in prison for the money laundering count. He is due for sentencing on October 3, 2024.  

In 2023, Buyanovsky, the former president and owner of KanRus, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering and consented to the forfeiture of over $450,000 worth of avionics equipment and accessories, and a $50,000 personal forfeiture judgment. 

Chistyakov, a former KanRus broker, was arrested in Riga, Latvia, for his role in the illegal smuggling scheme. The US has applied for his extradition.聽聽

Airbus delivers first-ever H160 helicopter in the United States

• Aircraft

byIan Molyneaux

2024-07-04

A forfeiture complaint was filed against the aircraft part on May 1, 2024, after the landing gear was sold in June 2023 by a Florida-based aircraft parts overhauler and reseller for $1.55 million. 

According to the DOJ, the Boeing 737 landing gear was purchased for the benefit of LLC RM Design and Development (RMDD), a Kyrgyz Republic-based transhipper of dual-use items, to service Russia in violation of US economic sanctions.聽

Court documents revealed that the Boeing 737-800 landing gear was sold by the Florida reseller to an intermediary in Istanbul, Turkey, called GQ Solution Elektronik Ekipman Limited Sirketi. 

In July 2023, the Treasury Department精东影业 (OFAC) designated RMDD as a Specially Designated National for operating in the electronics sector of the Russian economy.聽聽聽

According to OFAC, the Kyrgyz Republic-based firm was established in March 2022, less than a month after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It described the company as a 鈥減rolific shipper of dual-use goods to Russia, including to firms that have supplied electronics to Russia-based defense companies鈥�. 

As a result of OFAC精东影业 efforts, all property belonging to RMDD in the US has subsequently been blocked. 

Five days after OFAC designated RMDD as a Specially Designated National, the company sent an email to the reseller in Florida to 鈥渟witch [the purchase] fully to our partners GQ Solution鈥�.聽聽聽

‘Today精东影业 complaint stops an attempted illegal transfer’

Following the email, all mentions of RMDD were scrubbed from invoices for the landing gear. 

Crucially, on August 29, 2023, GQ Solution completed the End User Certification form agreeing to 鈥渘ot export or re-export U.S. products, technology or software鈥� to any restricted country unless otherwise authorized by the United States Government鈥�. 

On September 1, 2023, US Customs and Border Protection informed the shipper that it had detained the landing gear shipment at the airport in Miami.聽聽

鈥淭his Office continues to use every tool it has to stop illegal transactions with Russian businesses,鈥� US Attorney Matthew Graves said. 鈥淭oday精东影业 complaint stops an attempted illegal transfer to the Russian Federations of parts for airplanes and seeks to permanently deprive both the Russian Federation and the company that tried to sell them of these goods.鈥�  

Additionally, the State Department announced new sanctions on May 1, 2024, against entities operating in Russia精东影业 technology sector, including GQ Solution Elektronik Limited in connection with the company精东影业 supplying of electronic components to Russia-based companies.聽

Delta officially unveils new Airbus A350 with bold Team USA Olympic Games livery聽

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2024-05-03

Oleg Sergeyevhich Patsulya and Vasilii Sergeyevich Besedin, who live in Miami-Dade County, Florida, both admitted conspiring to violate the US Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) while Patsulya also pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit international money laundering. 

From May 2022 to May 2023, the two men obtained orders for various aircraft parts and components from Russian buyers 鈥� primarily commercial airline companies. 

They then sourced the parts from US suppliers and unlawfully exported the materials to Russia while circumventing export laws and regulations that were put in place following Russia精东影业 invasion of Ukraine.聽

The defendants admitted to knowing the items were controlled and required a license from the Department of Commerce to export. 

In one example, they conspired to export multiple shipments of a carbon disc brake system used on Boeing 737 aircraft. 

Besedin and Patsulya provided false information that the parts were intended for countries other than Russia such as Turkey.   

US authorities were able to detain, prior to export, multiple shipments made by the defendants containing units of the brake assembly technology. 

The defendants also made false statements both orally to one supplier and in the export compliance forms for parts where money was received from a Russian airline company to make the purchase.聽

Up to 20 years in prison

In total, US bank accounts associated with the conspiracy received at least $4,582,288 sent from Russian airline companies through Turkish bank accounts to purchase aircraft parts and components intended for unlawful export. 

鈥淏y their own admission, the defendants fraudulently procured millions of dollars鈥� worth of U.S.-origin aircraft equipment to smuggle to Russian airline companies,鈥� said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department精东影业 National Security Division. 鈥淭hese pleas are the latest example of the Department精东影业 commitment to bringing to justice those whose crimes enrich the Russian regime.鈥� 

Conspiracy to export items from the US without a license in violation of the Export Control Reform Act and conspiracy to commit international money laundering carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 

鈥淭hese defendants smuggled sensitive aircraft technology into Russia following its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and did so in violation of laws designed to protect America精东影业 national security,鈥� Attorney General Merrick Garland said. 鈥淭oday精东影业 guilty pleas reflect the seriousness with which the Justice Department approaches violations of the law that endanger the United States and benefit our adversaries.鈥� 

The Russian nationals will be sentenced on June 17, 2024.聽

EU bans Southwind Airlines due to links with Russia 聽

• Airlines

byMiquel Ros

2024-04-02

The pilots have undergone intensive training in the United Kingdom (UK), involving basic flying, ground school and language training. 

As part of their training, the pilots have been taught general aircraft handling, flying using the aircraft精东影业 instruments, low level navigation and advanced formation flying by experienced RAF instructors. 

They also received English language tutoring to assist in their training and to boost interoperability with NATO air forces, where English is the standardized international flight language.聽

The training comes following a request from Ukraine to provide its air force with F-16 fighter jets so that the country can defend its skies from Russian forces, in the wake of the invasion back in February 2022.聽

While countries such as the Netherlands and Demark are providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, the UK was only able to offer training, as it does not operate the aircraft.  

The intensive training carried out by the RAF constitutes the UK精东影业 contribution to the Air Capability Coalition, co-led by the United States (US), Denmark and the Netherlands.  

The Ukrainian pilots will now move to advanced flying training provided by the French Air Force before learning to fly F-16 fighter jets. On September 3, 2023, the authorities of France and Ukraine reported that they had reached a deal to train Ukrainian pilots in France.聽

The first group of Ukrainian pilots have completed basic flying training in the UK. 馃嚞馃嚙馃馃嚭馃嚘

We salute their courage and determination.

They will now continue their training journey in France, before eventually getting to grips with the F-16. over to you 馃嚝馃嚪

— Ministry of Defence 馃嚞馃嚙 (@DefenceHQ)

UK Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps said: 鈥淚 would like to congratulate these brave pilots on completing their initial training here in the UK. Thanks to the world-renowned skills of RAF, these pilots have received some of the best training available and are now a step closer to joining the fight against Putin精东影业 illegal invasion.”  

According to the UK, the first F-16s are set to be delivered to Ukraine by summer 2024. 

Ukraine pilots have also been undergoing F-16 training in the US since October 2023, at Morris Air National Guard base in Tucson, Arizona.   

Several Ukrainian pilots are expected to complete their training by May 2024.聽

Ukraine hopes to restart commercial flights from Kyiv as soon as possible聽

• Aviation

byLuke Peters

2024-03-12

According to Spanish media, Maksim Kuzminov died after sustaining gunshot wounds in Villajoyosa in Alicante where he lived following his highly publicized defection in 2023.  

鈥淗e [Kuzminov] decided to move to Spain instead of staying here [in Ukraine 鈥� ed. note]. From what we know, he invited his ex to his place and was later found shot dead,鈥� a source told Ukrainska Pravda. 

It is understood that Kuzminov was killed by an unknown gunman who fired 12 shots, with reports that a burnt-out car was found following the incident in nearby El Campello. 

According to , the Spanish police are looking for two people that fled in the destroyed vehicle.聽

It has been claimed that Kuzminov精东影业 body was found on February 13, 2024, in a car park below an apartment building.聽

Spanish police did not release the name of the victim but suggested he may have been living in Alicante under a new identity.  

While the Main Intelligence Directorate Andriy Yusov confirmed the death of Kuzminov, he did not specify how he was killed.  

Kuzminov defected to Ukraine in August 2023, with the help of the Ukrainian military intelligence service (GUR).聽聽

The plan was reportedly constructed over a six-month period in which Kuzminov精东影业 family were also secretly moved to Ukraine.  

On August 23, 2024, the Russian pilot rerouted his Mi-8 AMTSh assault transport helicopter during a logistical flight between two airbases, transporting parts intended for Su-27 and Su-30SM fighter jets.聽 聽

“I contacted representatives of the Ukrainian intelligence service, explained my situation. I was offered security guarantees, new documents, monetary compensation, remuneration. We discussed the details and started planning my flight,鈥� the 28-year-old Russian pilot said following the operation.聽聽

Ukraine intelligence service helps Russian Mi-8 helicopter pilot defect: report聽

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2023-08-23

According to Serhiy Popko, the Head of Kyiv’s military administration, Russia fired Iranian-made Shahed-type drones from the occupied Crimea overnight on February 10, 2024. Multiple reports indicated Russia精东影业 drone activity over the regions of Kyiv, Kherson, Odesa, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, and Mykolaiv.

“Overnight, units of anti-aircraft missile forces, mobile fire groups of the Air Force and Defense Forces of Ukraine, electronic warfare equipment were involved in repelling the air attack. As a result of combat operations, 40 enemy Shaheds were destroyed,” the Ukrainian Air Force shared the details of a drone attack in a post on .

Meanwhile, 26 more Russia-launched drones were reportedly downed over several southern regions, chiefly over the Mykolaiv region near the Black Sea.

According to preliminary information, the Ukrainian air defense systems were engaged for more than five hours, and the skies over the country’s capital were declared clear before 4 a.m. (0200 GMT) on February 11.

While there no casualties nor destruction in or near Kyiv and the central Cherkasy region were reported, falling debris from a downed drone and the blast wave damaged residential buildings and a gas pipeline in the Mykolaiv region near the Black Sea.

“The priority for the enemy was again the coastal strip of infrastructure and agro-industrial facilities,” the Ukrainian military wrote.

At least one civilian was injured in the southern region of Dnipro, the military confirmed.

Dutch government halts F-16 sale talks with Draken to deliver to Ukraine

• Defense
• War in Ukraine

byClement Charpentreau

2024-02-06

Before the recent attack, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu visited several drone production facilities in the Volga River region of Udmurtia. The minister said that the production of military drones has significantly increased over the past year, though he also admitted there were still some technical issues that needed fixing, as per the state-owned news agency report.

Russian Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik drone production expected to begin in H2 2024

• Defense

byClement Charpentreau

2024-01-31

According to a statement by S7 Airlines on December 22, 2023, the carrier completed a deal with three lessors for a total of 45 medium-haul aircraft.聽

The agreement with AerCap, ALC and SMBC Aviation Capital was reached with the participation of the Russian insurance company NSK. 

Under the terms of the settlement, the lessors agreed to cease claims against S7 under insurance policies and lease agreements. 

鈥淪7 Airlines continues negotiations to resolve aircraft relations with other foreign lessors of the airline,鈥� S7 declared in a statement. 

In an SEC filing, AerCap released more details about its own agreement with S7 Airlines and Ural Airlines. 

The Irish-based lessor said the settlement with S7 Airlines was for 29 aircraft and four spare engines.  

AerCap said an agreement for 18 aircraft and one spare engine had also been reached with Ural Airlines. 

Both transactions with the Russian airlines were approved by the US Department of Commerce and the US Department of the Treasury. 

AerCap精东影业 settlement with the two airlines was signed for approximately $572 million and was approved by the US Department of Commerce and the US Department of the Treasury. 

News of the settlements were reported in Russian news outlets, which claimed that Ural Airlines鈥� agreement with AerCap was for Airbus jets. However, Russian publications claimed the deal was in fact for 19 Airbus planes.  

鈥淚n accordance with the agreements reached, the lessors ceased their claims against the Russian parties both under insurance policies issued by Russian insurance companies and under leasing agreements concluded by Ural Airlines with the AerCap group and legal entities managed by the AerCap group,鈥� Ural Airlines announced in a statement.  

According to Russian news websites, the newly acquired jets should now be able to fly freely outside Russia without fear of being impounded.  

Subsequently, Ural Airlines has announced that it will resume flights to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as of December 27, 2023.  

In May 2022, the passed a resolution demanding Russia returns over 400 鈥渟tolen鈥� aircraft leased from foreign companies.聽

Ural Airlines A320 field escape 鈥榤othballed鈥� for the winter as new photos emerge

• Aircraft
• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2023-11-22

The infringement on Romanian territory came as Russia launched a sustained drone attack on Ukrainian port infrastructure.聽

According to Romanian officials, the attacks occurred across December 14 and 15, 2023, close to the border its border with Ukraine.  

The Ukrainian ports of Reni and Izmail on the Danube River saw their civil infrastructure attacked by Russian forces. 

鈥淭he Ministry of National Defense monitored the situation in the border area and activated Air Police procedures, also notifying the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations regarding the areas in Tulcea and Gala葲i,鈥� the Romanian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.  

The Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations issued a RO-Alert message at 10:45 pm local time.  

F-16 fighter jets from the Romanian Air Force精东影业 86th Air Base in Fete葯ti and Eurofighter Typhoons from the German Air Force were subsequently scrambled to perform surveillance missions of the national airspace. 

The radar surveillance system of the Romanian Army detected a possible unauthorized penetration into the national airspace, with a signal detected at low altitude on a route to the Grindu area, in Tulcea county. 

A possible impact area was investigated and located overnight with news being fed to the Romanian army regarding the drone crater discovered in an uninhabited area about 4 km upstream from the town of Grindu. 

Romania’s 聽said it 鈥渟trongly condemns the attacks carried out by the Russian Federation against some objectives and elements of civil infrastructure in the Ukrainian ports on the Danube. These attacks are unjustified and in serious contradiction with the rules of international humanitarian law鈥�.聽

Evidence from the crash site is being collected and an investigation has been launched.聽

6th generation stealth fighter jet construction approved by UK, Japan and Italy

• Defense

byIan Molyneaux

2023-12-14

The Myasishchev M-55, or Mystic B, was developed in the USSR, following the United States (US) dominance in the field of reconnaissance during the 1950s.  

At the time the US was deploying spy balloons above Russia and China and gathering crucial intelligence from over 60,000 feet, out of the reach of Soviet aircraft.聽聽

The USSR in turn tried to develop an aircraft that would reach the same heights as the reconnaissance balloons so they could be destroyed. 

When a US U2 spy plane, itself capable of flying at 70,000 feet, was shot down in 1960 over the USSR, the Soviets were able to gain vital knowledge in high-altitude spy plane technology.  

Rather than developing a combat aircraft the USSR set about developing its own spy plane which eventually produced the M-55.  

However, since the Cold War M-55 aircraft (of which five were reportedly made) have been deployed to carry out earth-sciences research rather than any military missions. 

The MOD精东影业 latest warning has advised that an M-55 has been observed carrying a 鈥渕ilitary reconnaissance pod鈥� and that Russia is likely considering bringing the high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft back into service. 

In an update on November 19, 2023 the said: 鈥淎 critical flaw in Russian procurement strategy has been its failure to establish an adequate Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability. This is critical for the timely and accurate prosecution of targets by air, sea, and ground forces.鈥澛犅�

The MOD continued: 鈥淭here is a realistic possibility that the M-55 will return to frontline service to bolster Russia精东影业 limited ISTAR capabilities over Ukraine. Operating at high altitudes enables the sensors to work at considerable stand-off range. It is almost certain that the aircraft will conduct missions against Ukraine from the relative safety of Russian airspace.鈥澛�

US Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft overshoots runway in Hawaii, crashes into water

• Defense

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-11-21

Despite Ukrainian air space being closed, though, the Hungarian low-cost carrier jet made its daring escape.  

The Airbus A320 took off from Danylo Halytskyi International Airport Lviv (LWO) and found safety at Katowice Airport (KTW), Poland, seven months after it had聽first become stranded.聽

However, HA-LWS was not the only Wizz Air A320 that was stuck in Ukraine as a result of聽the invasion by聽Russian troops. 聽

At Sikorsky International Airport Kyiv (IEV), three other A320s were also caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.  

The aircraft registered HA-LWY arrived in Kyiv from Italy, whereas HA-LPJ arrive from Germany and HA-LPM from Hungary. 

Now, 20 months on, Wizz Air CEO J贸zsef V谩radi has聽revealed in an interview with what has happened to the three aircraft and whether they are still operable. 聽

According to the CEO, the engines from two of the aircraft were transported across the border into Poland whereas the other aircraft is still intact in Ukraine.  

A spokesperson for Wizz Air told 精东影业 that in the future the engines could be refitted to the two aircraft, which could then be flown.  

The spokesperson said: 鈥淣one of Wizz Air aircraft based in Ukraine at the start of the conflict has been damaged. Wizz Air managed to rescue one aircraft from Lviv, as well as remove and transport to Poland the fitted engines from two of the three aircraft based in Kyiv. Wizz Air can re-install these engines onto the subject aircraft and, following performance of required maintenance checks, fly them again. One aircraft stays intact in Kyiv.鈥�  

MYAirline issues 鈥榟umble鈥� apology for flight 鈥榝iasco鈥� after commission精东影业 rebuke

• Airlines

byIan Molyneaux

2023-10-12