The U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security publicly identified any aircraft that has flown into Russia in violation of the Export Administration Regulations, the Department reported March 18.
By identifying the aircraft, the bureau made it so any entity that works with these aircraft without authorization may risk jail time and other penalties, the release reported.
“Today, the Department of Commerce is demonstrating the power and reach of the actions we took over the past few weeks in response to Russia’s brutal war of choice against Ukraine,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said. “We are publishing this list to put the world on notice — we will not allow Russian and Belarusian companies and oligarchs to travel with impunity in violation of our laws.”
Preventing these aircraft from receiving services usually leaves them effectively grounded. This is a further sanction on Russia due to its recent military actions in Ukraine, according to the Department of Commerce.
“The actions we have taken to date have isolated Russia and Belarus from the global economy, and I hope that today’s action brings that fact home to the Russian businesses and oligarchs that seek to continue their operations,” said Don Graves, deputy secretary of commerce. “We are working with our allies and partners to ensure that Russia and Belarus understand that our actions aren’t idle words or dead letters on the page.”
The bureau imposed strict controls Feb. 24 on aviation-related items headed for Russia. Similar controls were put on Belarus, including a new license requirement for specified aircraft or aircraft parts, according to the Department of Commerce report.
Graves said the controls “have real teeth and as Putin’s vicious war continues, they will continue to bite harder on the Russian and Belarusian economies."
