The European Union has added 47 legal entities to its new sanctions list, most of which are factories and design bureaus. The list also includes Volga-Dnepr and Ural Airlines. In total, the 14th package of EU sanctions against Russia imposed restrictions on 116 individuals and legal entities. 

The sanctions were imposed because of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. They include a ban on the transit of Russian liquefied natural gas through European ports, as well as on the import of a number of minerals. Measures include a ban on landing or flying in the EU for aircraft operating private flights on behalf of individuals and legal entities from Russia. 

In November 2023, the Trap Aggressor team conducted an investigation into the activities of the Russian airline Volga-Dnepr. Until February 2022, the company fulfilled government contracts for the Russian government. It also cooperated with the Russian armed forces and the Wagner PMC. 

Volga-Dnepr signed contracts with huge military enterprises. For example, with the 81st Armored Repair Plant, the 223rd Flight Detachment, the VNIIEM Corporation, NPO Energomash, RKK Progress, and Russian Space Systems. 

The company also transported military equipment and products after the start of the full-scale invasion. The top military and political leadership of the Russian Federation has again engaged the Volga-Dnepr Group of Companies to circumvent sanctions and smuggle relevant “goods” into Russia. In particular, according to available information, at the end of 2022, Volga-Dnepr’s An-124-100 Ruslan aircraft transported military aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, including Su-30 fighters, which were undergoing major repairs at the 558th repair facility at the Belarusian airfield of Baranovichi.

Other legal entities that have been subject to the restrictions include: 

• Bryansk Electromechanical Plant BEMZ;
• Automatika Concern;
• Aeroelectromash design bureau;
• Barnaul Plant of Transport Engineering;
• Moscow Machine-Building Plant Vpered;
• Koshkin Design Bureau of Automatic Lines;
• Tallamkho Design Bureau;
• PJSC Sovcomflot;
• Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation;
• Mayak Machine-Building Plant;
• United Instrument-Making Corporation (UIC);
• 103rd Armored Vehicle Repair Plant;
• Gidromash plant;
• Federal State Unitary Enterprise Novorossiysk Railways.

Volga-Dnepr has recently been subject to UK sanctions.