Japan and the European Union have escalated their sanctions against Russia, further restricting the Russian aviation sector amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions. On June 21, 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that its latest sanctions would target the Ilyushin Design Bureau and Tupolev Design Bureau. These firms, which are integral parts of the UAC United Aircraft Corporation under the Rostec umbrella, are involved in both military and civilian aircraft production.
Additionally, Japan has imposed sanctions on AK Alrosa, a prominent diamond mining company listed on the stock market, which also owns Alrosa Aviakompania. This airline, operating a fleet that includes two B737-700s and three B737-800s, primarily serves the mining communities of Mirnyj and Polyarnyj, as well as Novosibirsk, reflecting the intertwined nature of Russia’s industrial sectors.
Simultaneously, the Council of the European Union has adopted a fourteenth package of sanctions aimed at exerting more pressure on Russian nationals traveling in Europe. The newly tightened measures specifically target business jet flights, as they restrict any non-scheduled flight “where a Russian natural or legal person, entity or body, is in a position to effectively determine the place or time for its take-off or landing to reach, for instance, a holiday destination or a business meeting.
These expanded EU sanctions not only prohibit Russian airlines and Russian-registered aircraft from entering EU airspace—a standing policy—but also mandate operators of non-scheduled flights to disclose detailed information regarding the ownership of the aircraft and the identity of passengers to EU authorities.
This continued tightening of sanctions by Japan and the EU underscores a coordinated effort to apply economic pressure on key Russian industries and limit the mobility of its nationals within Europe. The measures are indicative of the broader strategic stance that Japan and the EU are maintaining in response to ongoing regional security concerns.