Putin’s inner circle bypasses sanctions to buy Western jets
Members of Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, including state corporate executives and sanctioned oligarchs, continue to purchase and operate Western private jets despite international restrictions. A Wall Street Journal investigation, reported by The Moscow Times, revealed an extensive network of intermediaries facilitating these illicit luxury acquisitions.
The bypass network routes Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft through secondary markets to obscure the final destination. Intermediaries register these luxury jets in non-aligned jurisdictions, including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kazakhstan, and South Africa, before delivering them to Russian entities.
The evasion networks
Sergei Chemezov, CEO of the state conglomerate Rostec and a long-standing KGB associate of Putin, regularly utilizes a Bombardier Global 7500 valued at €69 million. Flightradar24 telemetry data shows this specific aircraft completed roughly six flights to Dubai, Turkey, and Southeast Asia between October 2025 and January 2026.
Similarly, oligarch Arkady Rotenberg, who has faced international sanctions since 2014, has deployed two Bombardier Global aircraft for flights to the UAE and Azerbaijan since mid-2022. Billionaire Igor Kesaev, whose net worth is estimated by Forbes at €4.4 billion, also imported a Bombardier Global Express XRS in 2023.
High-value assets detected
Russian elites previously relied on European operators based in Switzerland, Luxembourg, and San Marino. Following the imposition of sweeping sanctions, brokers established new gray-market distribution channels to bypass traditional European aviation hubs.
Maria Verovici, vice president of the analytical firm Ch-Aviation, stated that certain European companies exploit regulatory "gray zones" by selling aircraft to third parties who subsequently redirect them to Russia. For instance, the jet used by Chemezov was initially registered in Bermuda and serviced by Austrian firm Avcon, before transitioning to Russia's Tarp Aviation.
While Avcon affirmed its strict compliance with international sanctions, Tarp Aviation did not respond to press inquiries. Ownership stakes remain structured through the Vienna-based trust SecuTrust.
Regulatory gaps and political shift
Aircraft manufacturer Bombardier emphasized its absolute adherence to all applicable sanction regulations. However, legal experts noted that these secondary transactions likely breach both export restrictions and individual asset-freezing orders.
John Smith, former director of the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), noted that Russia expanded its access to Western goods during Donald Trump’s second presidential term due to shifted administrative priorities.
"Sanctions enforcement resembles a 'whack-a-mole' game: identifying evasion schemes requires significant resources and permanent monitoring. This administration chose not to focus on intensifying pressure on Russia," he said.
Felix Helmstedter, a sanctions expert at the Humboldt University of Berlin, added that such operational schemes simultaneously violate both strict export prohibitions and personal sanctions levied against the ultimate beneficial owners.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
