Russia Uses Air Shadow Fleet to Supply Forces in Africa
Russia is utilizing an “air shadow fleet” to supply its forces in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Between Jan. 2025 and July 2026, at least 75 flights were conducted using a mix of state and private carriers, including the sanctioned Flight Unit 224 and unsanctioned operators like Sapsan Airlines and Liz Aviation. The network uses staging points in Syria, Libya, Turkey, and the UAE. Czech MEP…
Russia employs a fleet of military and private aircraft, akin to its maritime "shadow fleet," to sustain its forces in Africa's Sahel region. Between January 2025 and July 2026, at least 75 flights associated with Russian state-aligned military forces journeyed to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, according to an analysis by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS).
The network mirrors the operation of Russia's maritime "shadow fleet," utilizing a mix of military operators, government agencies, and private carriers to maintain supply lines without solely relying on clearly identifiable state assets. Flight Unit 224, a defense ministry-controlled carrier under US sanctions, emerged as the most active operator; however, the study also identified Sapsan Airlines, Liz Aviation, and Russia's 'Ministry for Emergency Situations' among operators not sanctioned by the EU, US, or UK.
State aircraft frequently traversed Russian-controlled bases in Syria and Libya, while private carriers predominantly utilized commercial hubs in Turkey, Algeria, and the UAE. Tomáš Zdechovský, a Czech EPP MEP and First Lieutenant in the Czech Army, emphasized that the findings warrant an urgent assessment by EU institutions and member states.
"If these aircraft and companies are knowingly transporting Russian military personnel or military-related cargo to support the Africa Corps, they should face targeted sanctions, regardless of where the aircraft are registered," he stated to Euractiv. Brussels has progressively escalated its targeting of Russia's maritime shadow fleet, including entities based in third countries.
Its latest sanctions package targeted 41 vessels and entities supporting the network. Libya has emerged as a crucial component of this network, as Moscow expands its military infrastructure there. The official "Africa Defense Forum," citing data from the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's Tearline project, reported that Russia plans to finance infrastructure projects and deploy personnel at six Libyan air bases, spanning central, eastern, and southern Libya.
These sites are being upgraded or renovated to accommodate Russian aircraft, air defense systems, drones, and personnel.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
