Russia calls on UN aviation organization to ease sanctions

Russia has called on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ease sanctions on spare parts and overflights, which Moscow describes as “illegal coercive measures.”

Western sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 have cut Russian airlines off from access to Airbus and Boeing aircraft and spare parts. They now procure these through complicated circumvention channels, with Russian authorities warning that this jeopardizes flight safety.

The request comes ahead of the ICAO assembly in Montreal, where Russia is simultaneously seeking a seat on the 36-member governing body. The organization had previously condemned Moscow for violating Ukrainian airspace.

Russia's aging aircraft fleet is under pressure – in July, an Antonov An-24 crashed, and a few days later, Aeroflot had to cancel dozens of flights after a cyberattack.

According to sources, parts for Western aircraft could soon become unusable, which could lead to further tragedies.

(reuters, lud)