US says flights by Aeroflot, Roman Abramovich violated sanctions on Russia

Authorities warn that providing any services to aircraft could lead to fines and jail time

Airplanes owned by Russian-Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich and Russia’s state carrier Aeroflot, among others, have violated US sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, Washington said Friday.

The United States earlier this month banned US-made planes or those with 25 percent American parts from entering Russia without authorization, but the Commerce Department said several aircraft had done so in contravention of the sanctions.

These include a Gulfstream G650ER owned by Abramovich, who also owns the Chelsea football club, as well as Boeing 737 and 777 aircraft operated by Aeroflot.

The department, which said it aims to ground the planes, warned that providing any service to them, including refueling, would violate US rules and could result in fines and jail time.

“We are publishing this list to put the world on notice — we will not allow Russian and Belarusian companies and oligarchs to travel with impunity in violation of our laws,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement.

Western countries including the United States and the European Union have imposed stiff sanctions on a range of Russian industries and wealthy individuals seen as supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine late last month. The penalties also targeted Belarus for its support.

An Aeroflot Airbus A330-200 seen departing from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on June 17, 2011. (CC BY-SA Wikimedia commons)

All of the flights that violated the sanctions were operated or owned by Russian nationals, Commerce said.

Other planes Commerce identified include Boeing 777s and 737s operated by Nordwind Airlines, Boeing 767s and 737s flown by Utair, and Boeing 767s, 757s 777s and a 737 operated by Azur Air.

Russian-Israeli oligarch Roman Abramovich is seen at Ben Gurion Airport, March 14, 2022. (Screen grab/Walla)

Abramovich flew out of Israel after a short stay Monday by private plane, stopping briefly in Istanbul before flying on to Moscow.

Meanwhile, two superyachts owned by Abramovich were sailing through the Mediterranean Friday with unclear destinations, as the billionaire appeared to be seeking to avoid their seizure under sanctions.