At least 30 private jets and helicopters owned by oligarchs have crossed EU airspace since the war started despite being banned, research shows
- At least 30 aircraft of oligarchs flew over the EU since the war began, per Welt am Sonntag research.
- This is despite the EU banning all Russian planes in late February.
At least 30 private planes and helicopters belonging to oligarchs from Russia have flown across the European Union since the Ukraine war began, according to German newspaper Welt am Sonntag.
The EU banned Russian-owned planes from crossing its airspace on February 27 as part of sanctions against President Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine. But research from Welt am Sonntag suggests some aircraft owned by wealthy Russians have breached sanctions by flying over the EU.
Welt am Sonntag's research showed that one of Eugene Shvidler's jets had flown more than eight times through EU airspace — sometimes flying over Germany — after the ban. The Russian-born oil tycoon, who has US citizenship, had his jet seized in March by the UK, along with his other plane. He was listed as an oligarch after the UK sanctioned him in March.
In addition, an Airbus helicopter owned by Russian businessman Alexander Zanadvorov has flown over France at least eight times since the EU's airspace ban, Welt am Sonntag reported from its research.
The day after the EU announced its airspace ban, Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov's two private jets departed from EU airports, per Welt am Sonntag's research. One flew from Munich, Germany to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, while the other took off from Florence, Italy, the research also showed.
A Bombardier aircraft, reportedly owned by Russian telecoms billionaire Albert Avdolyan, flew from Nice, France, to Istanbul in Turkey on March 2, according to Welt am Sonntag's research.
The following month, a plane owned by Viktor Vekselberg, chairman of the metals, mining, and energy conglomerate Renova Group, took off in Switzerland and landed in Kazakhstan.
These movements come as Russian oligarchs have sought to move their private jets and yachts across the world in an attempt to avoid Western sanctions, which include the seizure of assets.
Jets linked to Roman Abramovich, former Chelsea FC owner, have also been tracked flying around after the EU's ban was imposed, according to an investigation first reported by The Guardian.