How Russian Oligarchs Evade Sanctions Using Bombardier Jets: A WSJ Investigation.

The Sanctions Evasion Scheme Involving Russian Oligarchs

According to Espreso.tv: An investigation by The Wall Street Journal has uncovered a sanctions evasion scheme in which Russian oligarchs use Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft through intermediaries. Sergey Chemezov, head of the Russian defense conglomerate Rostec, owns a Bombardier Global 7500 valued at $75 million. Between October 2025 and January 2026, Chemezov made roughly six flights to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), indicating active use of this jet.

Another figure, Arkady Rotenberg, has been under sanctions since 2014 and acquired two Bombardier Global jets in late 2022. Igor Kesaev, a billionaire with a net worth of $4.8 billion according to Forbes, also imported a black Bombardier Global Express XRS in 2023. The evasion scheme relies on European intermediaries who register the aircraft in jurisdictions that do not enforce sanctions. The company Avcon played a key role in this operation.

Cost of Evasion and Challenges for the International Community

Since the start of the full-scale war, Russia has spent approximately $130 billion on circumventing sanctions. Felix Helmstädter, a sanctions expert, stated:

“These schemes violate both the general export restrictions to Russia and the individual sanctions targeting specific individuals.” — Felix Helmstädter

Analyst John Smith added: “Enforcing sanctions is like playing whack-a-mole: it takes significant effort to track down evasion tactics.”

Jurisdictions that do not recognize these sanctions include:

• The UAE
• Oman
• Kazakhstan
• South Africa

These countries have become critical links in the sanctions-evasion chain, allowing Russian oligarchs to continue using modern aircraft despite restrictions.

The uncovered scheme highlights the challenges the international community faces in combating illicit financial flows. By routing aircraft through jurisdictions that ignore sanctions, Russian oligarchs retain access to vital resources and maintain their lifestyles despite economic penalties. This also underscores the need for stronger global oversight of intermediary companies and improved enforcement mechanisms to address such violations.