The UK has imposed new economic sanctions against Russia. In particular, these restrictions include Russia’s “shadow fleet“, suppliers of microchips to Russia and the Moscow stock exchange. The list also includes 21 suppliers of ammunition, machine tools, microelectronics, logistics and other goods for the Russian military-industrial complex. Among them is the subject of Trap Aggressor’s investigations and one of Russia’s largest air cargo carrier “Volga-Dnepr“. 

The Trap Aggressor team systematically investigates companies and Russians involved in cooperation with the enemy’s military-industrial complex. In November 2023, we conducted an investigation into the activities of the Russian airline “Volga-Dnepr”. Even before the full-scale invasion, this company had been working on state contracts for the Russian government, its armed forces and the Wagner PMC. The company signed contracts with the largest military enterprises. In particular, with the “81st Armoured Repair Plant”, “The 223rd Flight Detachment”, “VNIIEM Corporation”, “NPO Energomash”, “RKK Progress” and “Russian Space Systems”. 

In its investigation, Trap Aggressor focused on the transportation of military equipment and products by Volga-Dnepr after the start of the full-scale invasion. The Russian leadership actively engaged this group of companies to circumvent sanctions and smuggle “goods” important to the Russian military-industrial complex into Russia. In particular, at the end of 2022, the airline’s An-124-100 Ruslan aircraft transported military aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, including Su-30 fighters that were undergoing major repairs at the 558th repair facility at the Belarusian airfield of Baranovichi. 

“Volga-Dnepr” also supplied electronics from countriesthat are partners to Russia/ The number of flights there has increased significantly since the start of the full-scale war. According to Trap Aggressor, the company has been transporting sanctioned goods and military products. In April 2022, on behalf of Vladimir Putin, the Russian government and “Volga-Dnepr” signed a cooperation agreement on regular air cargo services between Russia and its ally countries, including China, India, Turkey, the UAE, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Vietnam. In this way, Russia imported goods to circumvent the sanctions.

Currently, three of the company’s aircraft are blocked in Germany, and a number of “Volga-Dnepr” affiliated companies continue to operate in the EU. New sanctions imposed by the UK government may accelerate the process of sanctioning the company by the EU. 

Earlier, we analysed the EU and US sanctions imposed on companies from the Trap Aggressor investigations.