A close associate of President Vladimir Putin has reportedly obtained an exclusive Western-made business jet despite sweeping sanctions on aircraft deliveries to Russia. On January 29, it emerged that Russian oligarch Arkady Rotenberg, long regarded as part of the Kremlin leader’s inner circle, managed to bring an Airbus A318-112CJ Elite into Russia during the war against Ukraine, bypassing restrictions on aircraft and aviation components, according to an investigation into the purchase of a luxury jet through offshore intermediaries Luxury business jet bought at half price despite sanctions. The aircraft is fitted with a VIP cabin, including a lounge, dining area, private office convertible into a bedroom, a kitchen and an entertainment system.
Ownership masked through intermediaries
Official Russian aviation and customs records list the owner of the jet as the airline Severo-Zapad, but leaked data from Russia’s border service indicate that the aircraft’s actual user is Rotenberg himself. The Airbus was supplied to the airline by Kutus Limited, an offshore company registered on the Isle of Man. Its director, Vladislav Yusupov, is related to billionaire developer God Nisanov, a known business partner of Rotenberg, highlighting the role of personal and family networks in structuring the deal.
Undervalued sale raises red flags
Customs data show that Severo-Zapad paid $16.3 million for the Airbus, far below its estimated market value of at least $65 million. The price discrepancy and the use of an offshore supplier point to a multi-layered scheme designed to obscure the true beneficiary and evade scrutiny. Such practices mirror broader patterns used to move sanctioned goods into Russia through opaque channels.
Sanctions strain Russian civil aviation
Since February 2022, the United States and the European Union have barred the supply of aircraft and certified aviation parts to Russia, cutting airlines off from new planes, maintenance and approved components. The restrictions have accelerated the degradation of Russia’s civilian fleet and heightened flight safety risks. Domestic import-substitution programmes have failed to deliver modern aircraft or reliable components, leaving projects such as SSJ and MC-21 dependent on foreign technology.
Elite privilege versus systemic decay
Against this backdrop, Rotenberg’s access to a Western luxury jet underscores the gap between official Kremlin rhetoric and the realities of its elite. While ordinary passengers face aging aircraft and growing safety concerns, figures close to Putin continue to enjoy exclusive Western assets. Western authorities have intensified investigations into sanctions evasion in aviation, but the continued use of offshore firms, nominal owners and undervalued transactions highlights persistent weaknesses in enforcement and the need for tougher secondary liability for intermediaries facilitating such schemes.
