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A Russian cargo aircraft blacklisted by the United States landed in South Africa late September 2025, sparking questions about aviation supervision, diplomatic neutrality, and whether South Africa unintentionally allowed a sanctioned entity to operate within its borders.
A Blacklisted Carrier Touches Down
The aircraft belongs to Abakan Air, a Russian cargo operator placed under US Treasury sanctions in June 2024 for allegedly transporting defense-related equipment in support of Moscow's war in Ukraine. The South African Department of Transport confirmed it had issued the operator a foreign operator's permit on 23 September 2025, reportedly unaware of its US blacklist status at the time.
A Heavily Loaded Arrival Raises Eyebrows
The plane, an Ilyushin IL-76, is a large military-style transport aircraft frequently used for heavy cargo. Its arrival has stirred diplomatic discussion because Abakan Air is listed by Washington's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), meaning US-linked entities are barred from doing business with it.
Reports suggest the aircraft arrived “heavily loaded,” carrying “civilian helicopters and acrobatic aircraft,” though these claims remain unverified. After refueling and offloading, the plane is reported to have departed with its cargo bay empty.
Tracing the Flight Path
According to publicly available flight-tracking data and local aviation reports, the aircraft flew from Iran to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, before landing at Upington Airport in South Africa's Northern Cape Province. It later made a stop near Johannesburg (Lanseria) before leaving the country.
The landing occurred between late September and early October 2025, just days after the South African government granted flight clearance.
How It Slipped Through the Net
The Department of Transport stated that Abakan Air followed “standard procedures” when applying for a foreign operator’s permit and that the approval was processed according to South African aviation law.
Officials insist the country has no legal obligation to enforce U.S. sanctions, as these are not recognized under South African legislation or United Nations resolutions.
However, critics argue that the oversight reveals a gap in cross-border intelligence and interdepartmental coordination, especially after the 2022 Lady R incident, when another Russian-sanctioned vessel docked in Simon’s Town, sparking international scrutiny.
Diplomatic Neutrality or Strategic Blind Spot?
The event reignites debates about South Africa’s non-aligned foreign policy stance amid the Russia–Ukraine conflict.
While the government maintains that it is acting within sovereign rights, analysts warn that repeated interactions with sanctioned Russian entities may strain relations with Western partners and invite economic or diplomatic pressure.
As of now, neither the cargo contents nor the flight’s ultimate purpose have been officially verified, leaving more questions than answers about what precisely took place in South Africa’s skies.
