Russia continues to receive large volumes of Western-made aviation parts through third-country intermediaries despite EU and U.S. sanctions, according to a UNITED24 Media investigation that cites customs records and internal correspondence.

Documentation obtained by the news agency shows “large-scale shipments” of restricted aircraft components arriving in Russia via third-party firms that purchase from Western suppliers and then resell onward, obscuring the ultimate destination and bypassing “no re-export” restrictions. The documents indicate Russian aviation “depends on these components to function,” UNITED24 said. 

The news outlet identified “thousands of shipments” between April 1, 2024 and March 1, 2025 involving avionics and aircraft systems delivered into Russia, with Honeywell described as the most frequent supplier in the dataset. Other suppliers named in the report include Safran Aerosystems, Korry Electronics, Souriau, PBS Velka Bites, and Exxon Mobile, with parts ranging from electronics and safety systems to connectors and mechanical components.

In one example, a China-based firm, Ruida Flying Aviation Technology Company, bought a push-button switch from Honeywell on June 18, 2024, legally imported it into China, then resold it into a chain that ultimately supplied Russia’s Aeroflot. The report says the case illustrates how parts can reach sanctioned Russian entities through intermediaries.

Another example includes a Safran oxygen system control exported to a Dubai-based trader and then resold to a Moscow company, according to the news agency, which identified more than 300 intermediary entities involved in the supply chain.

The United Arab Emirates, China, and Turkey are key transit hubs in the re-export network, UNITED24 said. 

Read more at UNITED24 Media