Series of Malfunctions
The past few months have witnessed a troubling series of malfunctions within Russian government aircraft. Independent sources, such as Belsat, report landing troubles with one of the "Russia" Special Flight Unit's aircraft, where brake pads were damaged. This incident was not isolated. Another government plane, accompanying Vladimir Putin to Krasnodar, encountered wing mechanism problems, underscoring the potential severity of such occurrences.
Impact of Sanctions
These malfunctions have intensified in the context of economic sanctions imposed on Russia in response to its international actions, including the invasion of Ukraine. Western countries have limited supplies of authorized spare parts for aircraft, directly affecting the safety and efficiency of the Russian aviation fleet. The problems are not confined to government planes alone. Civilian airlines also report an increase in malfunctions, suggesting that sanctions have a broad and profound impact on the entire aviation sector in Russia.
Russia faces the challenge of maintaining its aviation fleet's operational status amid international sanctions. The increasing frequency of government aircraft malfunctions not only complicates state officials' travel but also casts a shadow on the country's international reputation. The long-term effects of these technical problems could impact flight safety and further international relations, especially with the countries that have chosen to impose sanctions.