Russian illegal flights to the occupied Crimea in October-November 2016 and database since the annexation
Airbus A319-111. Russian Airlines "Rossiya" VQ-BBA. Photo: jetphotos
Olha KORBUT
Crimean Department of Maidan of Foreign Affairs, Kyiv
Translated by Tetyana PUCHKOVA
The BSNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs monitoring group has compared the number of illegal flights by the Russian airlines to the occupied Crimea in October-November 2016 with that in the corresponding months of 2014 and 2015.
Over the three years of occupation, the number of airlines that used to fly to the Simferopol airport, dropped from 23 in 2014 to 19 in 2015 and 15 in November 2016. In other words, the number of airlines that fly to Crimea has significantly decreased.
The following shows the number of airlines that used to fly to the occupied Crimea in October-November 2014-2016 years, by the respective year.
The number flights to the Simferopol airport in 2015 was the highest in all of the studied period during the occupation.
November 2016 showed a downward trend in the overall frequency of daily flights in comparison with the previous year.
As of November 2016, the following Russian airlines flights flew to the occupied Crimea:
Aeroflot, Russia, Ural Airlines, VIM-Avia, Globe / S7 Airlines, Yamal, Gazpromavia, Yakutia, Red Wings, Orenburg Airlines, YUVT Icarus (Pegas), Nordwind Airlines, NordAvia, Severstal.
The graph below shows the reduction in flights in 2016 comparing to the 2014-2015. It is worth noting that the number of flights in November 2016 was even lower than in 2014, the first year of the occupation.
Number of airflights to occupied Crimea in 2014-2016
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The main destination of the flights has not changed in the three years of occupation – it is predominantly Moscow, while St. Petersburg ranks second.
The destinations also include Yekaterinburg, Krasnodar, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Rostov, Tyumen, Ufa and Sochi. However, the frequency of flights to these cities has decreased to one daily compared with the 2014-2015, when there were two daily flights from Simferopol to each of them.
Russian airline uses these aircrafts also to operate passenger air travel to the airports of the EU and some non-EU countries that have recognized the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia at the UN General Assembly March 27, 2014.
The monitoring group presents the numbers of these aircrafts (October-November 2016) in Table 1 below.
Aircrafts of the Russian airlines that have been
continuously flying to the occupied Crimea,
while also flying to the European airports
Table 1.
|
## |
Country |
Aircraft |
Flight # |
Airlines |
To/From |
Flight to EU |
|
VP-BIT |
Bermuda |
A319-111 |
SU6134 |
Аерофлот / Росія |
SIP-ROV 17:25 24.10.2016 |
LED-Vienna (Austria) SU6603 22.11.2016 09:30 LED-Munich (Germany) SU6657 20.11.2016 10:30 |
|
VQ-BAV |
Bermuda |
A319-111 |
SU6895 |
Аерофлот / Росія |
SIP-LED 16:00 24.10.2016 |
LED-Munich (Germany) SU6657 22.11.2016 10:30 LED-Vienna (Austria) SU6603 20.11.2016 09:30 LED-Munich (Germany) SU6657 16.11.2016 10:30 LED-Larnaca (Cyprus) SU6617 17.11.2016 08:45 |
|
VQ-BSE |
Bermuda |
A320-214 |
SU1629 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 17:10 24.10.2016 |
MOW-Chisinau (Moldova) SU1846 22.11.2016 11:45 MOW-Antalya (Turkey) SU2142 19.11.2016 19:55 MOW-Dusseldorf (Germany) SU2434 18.11.2016 20.00 MOW-Prague(CR) SU2016 16.11.2016 20:20 |
|
VQ-BRQ |
Bermuda |
B737-8LP |
GH166 |
S7 Airlines / Globus |
SIP-MOW 16:45 24.10.2016 |
MOW-Dusseldorf (Germany) S7991 21.11.2016 09:25 |
|
VQ-BOZ |
Bermuda |
A321-211 |
U62842 |
Ural Airlines |
SIP-MOW 19:15 24.10.2016 |
KZN-Dubai(OAE) U6895 20.11.2016 17:05 |
|
VP-BVS |
Bermuda |
B737-524 |
NN345 |
VIM-Avia |
MOW-SIP 15:20 24.10.2016 |
MOW-Dublin(Ireland) NN9915 18.11.2016 Land. 09:22 |
|
VQ-BRP |
Bermuda |
B737-8LP |
GH166 |
S7 Airlines / Globus |
SIP-MOW 17:45 19.11.2016 |
MOW-Verona (Italy) S7697 16.11.2016 11:05 MOW-Larnaca (Cyprus) S7603 20.11.2016 11:35 |
|
VQ-BVL |
Bermuda |
B737-8GJ |
GH164 |
S7 Airlines / Globus |
SIP-MOW 14:35 22.11.2016 |
MOW-Verona (Italy) S7697 19.11.2016 11:05 MOW-Larnaca (Cyprus) S7603 21.11.2016 11:35 |
|
VQ-BOF |
Bermuda |
A321-211 |
U68 |
Ural Airlines |
SIP-MOW 09:00 04.11.2016 |
MOW-Antalya(Turkey) U61001 07.11.2016 03:05 MOW-Eilat (Israel) U65021 06.11.2016 14:00 Larnaca(Cyprus)-MOW U67030 05.11.2016 16:30 LED-Antalya(Turkey) U61073 09.11.2016 02:25 |
|
VQ-BCX |
Bermuda |
А321-211 |
U62832 |
Ural Airlines |
SIP-MOW 14:05 07.11.2016 |
MOW-Eilat(Israel) U67019 06.11.2016 10:35 LED-Larnaza(Cyprus) U67035 04.11.2016 05:00 |
|
VP-BLH |
Bermuda |
A320-214 |
SU1637 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 11:25 09.11.2016 |
MOW-Warsaw (Poland) SU2002 19:50 08.11.2016 MOW-Budapest(Hungary) SU2030 11:20 08.11.2016 MOW-Stockholm (Sweden) SU2210 11:25 04.11.2016 |
|
VQ-BAR |
Bermuda |
А319-111 |
SU6135 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-KRR 13:40 09.11.2016 |
LED-Hamburg (Germany) SU6654 09:10 14.11.2016 LED-Prague (CR) SU6621 11:10 11.11.2016 |
|
VQ-BCX |
Bermuda |
A321-211 |
U62831 |
Ural Airlines |
MOW-SIP 13:15 07.11.2016 |
Eliat (Israel) Larnaca (Cyprus) Antalya (Turkey) |
|
VQ-BBA |
Bermuda |
A319-111 |
SU6138 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-KRR 13:40 07.11.2016 |
Hamburg (Germany) |
|
VQ-BSL |
Bermuda |
A320-214 |
SU1621 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 14:5 04.11.2016 |
Stockholm (Sweden) Copenhagen (Denmark) Vilnius (Lithuania) Dusseldorf (Germany) |
|
VP-BTR |
Bermuda |
A321-211 |
SU1621 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 14:25 04.11.2016 |
Vienna (Austria) Milan (Italy) Prague (CR) Venice (Italy) |
|
VQ-BPW |
Bermuda |
A320-214 |
SU1631 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 21:20 31.10.2016 |
Hannover (Germany) Berlin (Germany) Istanbul (Turkey) Prague (CR) Desseldorf (Germany) |
|
VP-BNN |
Bermuda |
A319-111 |
SU6895 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-LED 13:10 01.11.2016 |
Vienna (Austria) Hamburg(Germany) |
|
VP-BBU |
Bermuda |
A319-112 |
SU6895 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-LED 13:10 05.11.2016 |
Munich (Germany) Vienna(Austria) Hamburg(Germany) |
|
VP-BWJ |
Bermuda |
A319-111 |
SU6893 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-LED 21:05 05.11.2016 |
Tel Aviv (Israel) Prague (CR) |
|
VP-BLR |
Bermuda |
A320-214 |
SU1621 SU1637 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 13:25 09.11.2016 SIP-MOW 12:25 15.11.2016 |
MOW-Tel Aviv(Israel) SU516 14:45 06.11.2016 MOW-Berlin (Germany) SU2316 23:40 05.11.2016 MOW-Prague (CR) SU2010 08:55 03.11.2016 MOW-Istanbul (Turkey) SU2134 21:45 02.11.2016 |
|
VQ-BKH |
Bermuda |
A321-211 |
U62932 |
Ural Airlines |
SIP-SVX 14:30 09.11.2016 |
MOW-Antalya (Turkey) U63001 13:40 05.11.2016 LED-Antalya (Turkey) U61073 02:25 05.11.2016 |
|
VP-BQK |
Bermuda |
А319-111 |
SU6895 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-LED 17:05 09.11.2016 |
ROV-Tel Aviv (Israel) SU6629 19:35 06.11.2016 LED-Barcelona (Spain) SU6701 10:15 05.11.2016 |
|
VQ-BWC |
Bermuda |
Boeing 737-8LJ |
SU1625 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 19:55 10.11.2016 |
MOW-Bologna (Italy) SU2424 09:10 08.11.2016 MOW-Belgrade (Serbia) SU2090 10:40 05.11.2016 MOW-Brussels (Belgium) SU2618 20:50 03.11.2016 |
|
VP-BJA |
Bermuda |
A320-214 |
SU1625 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 18:55 08.11.2016 |
MOW-Prague (CR) SU2016 20:20 07.11.2016 MOW-Istanbul (Turkey) SU2130 09:50 04.11.2016 |
|
VQ-BOC |
Bermuda |
А321-231 |
U62842 |
Ural Airlines |
SIP-MOW 21:10 08.11.2016 |
MOW-Eilat (Israel) U67021 11:35 06.11.2016 |
|
VQ-BSU |
Bermuda |
А320-214 |
SU1637 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 12:25 04.11.2016 |
MOW-Chisinau (Moldova) SU1846 08:50 10.11.2016 MOW-Barcelona (Spain) SU2512 20:10 09.11.2016 MOW-Hannover(Germany) SU2342 12:25 09.11.2016 MOW-Dusseldorf (Germany) SU2436 20:00 08.11.2016 MOW-Stockholm(Sweden) SU2210 11:25 06.11.2016 |
|
VQ-BCO |
Bermuda |
A319-111 |
SU6895 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-LED 13:10 10.11.2016 |
LED-Hamburg (Germany) SU6653 09:10 09.11.2016 LED-Prague (CR) SU6621 11:10 07.11.2016 |
|
VQ-BSJ |
Bermuda |
А320-214 |
SU1621 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 14:25 10.11.2016 |
MOW-Prague (CR) SU2010 08:55 09.11.2016 MOW-Vilnius (Lithuania) SU2108 21:10 08.11.2016 MOW-Budapest (Hungary) SU2030 11:20 07.11.2016 MOW-Chisinau (Moldova) SU1846 08:50 06.11.2016 |
|
VP-BGQ |
Bermuda |
Boeing 737-8LJ |
SU6146 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 22:30 07.11.2016 |
LED-Larnaca (Cyprus) FV5703 09.11.2016 Land. 07:07 MOW-Pafos (Cyprus) FV5705 08.11.2016 Land.07:49 MOW-Prague (CR) FV5739 06.11.2016 Land.06:24 MOW-Rimini (Italy) FV5728 05.11.2016 Land.06:22 |
|
VQ-BWJ |
Bermuda |
Boeing 737-8LJ |
SU6146 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 22:15 04.11.2016 |
MOW-Prague (CR) FV5739 10.11.2016 Land.06:27 MOW-Pafos (Cyprus) FV5705 09.11.2016 Land.07:53 LED-Larnaca (Cyprus) FV5765 08.11.2016 Land.17:48 MOW-Eilat (Israel) FV5745 06.11.2016 Land. 08:24 MOW-Dubai (OAE) FV5733 05.11.2016 13:10 LED-Antalya (Turkey) FV5863 03.11.2016 Land.18:10 |
|
VQ-BDA |
Bermuda |
A321-211 |
U62842 |
Ural Airlines |
SIP-MOW 21:10 05.11.2016 |
MOW-Rimini (Italy) U6741 08:05 05.11.2016 |
|
VQ-BSG |
Bermuda |
A320-214 |
SU1637 |
Aeroflot / Russia |
SIP-MOW 12:25 14.11.2016 |
MOW-Berlin (Germany) SU2316 20:30 14.11.2016 MOW-Warsaw (Poland) SU2002 18:50 13.11.2016 MOW-Stockholm (Sweden) SU2210 11:25 12.11.2016 MOW-Chisinau (Moldova) SU1846 08:50 11.11.2016 MOW-Prague (CR) SU2016 20:20 10.11.2016 |
According to the Maidan of Foreign Affairs and BSNews monitoring group, during the occupation, over 40 Russian airlines, as well as Cambodian and Vietnamese air carriers Cambodia Angkor Air and Jetstar Pacific, have flown to Simferopol, the only airport in the occupied Crimea.
As of November 2016, twenty of them have stopped flying to the occupied peninsula. Among them are those that fell under sanctions from the EU, US and other countries.
During this time, the aircrafts entered in the database for violating the Ukraine state border crossing regime, have been also flying to Norway, Austria, Greece, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Turkey and other countries.
Despite Russia’s violation of the March 27, 2016 UN General Assembly resolution on the annexation of Crimea and regular violations of the order of entering the territory of Ukraine by crews and passengers of the Russian airplanes, the airports of these and other countries continue cooperation with the airlines-violators, while the manufacturers of Airbus (EC) and Boeing (US) continue to serve the aircrafts that conduct illegal flights to the occupied Crimea.
Between June 2014 and November 2016, Russian airlines carried out over 83,000 flights to and from the occupied airport of Simferopol.
Among the leading airlines-offenders are Aeroflot, Rossiya, Ural Airlines, Transaero, Grozny-Avia, Ak Bars Aero, VIM-Avia, Globe, S7 Airlines, Orenburg Airlines and Dobrolot.
Five of these carriers have ceased their activities for various reasons, such as sanctions for flying to the occupied Crimea and the lack of subsidies for the flights to Simferopol that had been promised by the Russian authorities earlier.
Table №2 gives a list of all airlines that have flown to the occupied peninsula since the annexation.
Russian airlines that have flown to the occupied Crimea,
their fleet and international routes
Airlines that have ceased activity are highlighted in gray
Airlines that continue flying to Crimea are highlighted in pink
Airlines that have stopped flying to Crimea as of November 2016, are not highlighted
Table 2.
|
|
Airlines |
International route map |
Aircrafts |
|
1 |
Алроса |
Charter flights to ICS, Asia, EU |
Boeing 737-800 (3) Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 (1) |
|
2 |
Аерофлот |
USA, EU, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Asia, Baltic, UK, Middle East, CIS |
Airbus A319-100 (5) Airbus A320-200 (66, 17 items preordered) Airbus A321-200 (22, 10 items preordered) Airbus A330-200 (5) Airbus A330-300 (17) Airbus A350-800 (4 items preordered) Airbus A350-900 (18 items preordered) Boeing 737-800 (17, 37 items preordered) Boeing 777-300ER (14, 2 items preordered) |
|
3 |
Ак Барс Аеро |
No activity since January 3rd, 2015 due to financial problems (earlier - Germany, France, Italy, Finland, Austria, Croatia, Norway, Azerbaidjan) |
|
|
4 |
Бізнес Аеро |
Charter flights to CIS, Asia, EU |
|
|
5 |
Биліна |
Domestic flights |
|
|
6 |
ВІМ-Авіа |
Regular charter flights to Spain, Italy, Greece, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaidjan, France, Finland, Austria, Bulgaria, India, OAE, Sri-Lanka |
Airbus A319-111 (4) Airbus A320-200 (1 preordered) Boeing 757-200 (6) Boeing 737-500 (3) Boeing 767-300ER (2) Boeing 777-200ER (4, 3 preordered) |
|
7 |
Грозний-Авіа |
Armenia, Turkey |
|
|
8 |
Глобус |
Domestic flights |
Boeing 737-800 (19) |
|
9 |
Доброльот |
No activity due to EU sanctions since August 4, 2014 |
|
|
10 |
Донавіа (Integrated with "Rossiya" in 2016) |
Israel, Turkey, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan |
Airbus A319-100 (10) transfered to "Rossiya" |
|
11 |
Ікар (Pegas) |
Charter flights to Turkey, Spain, Tailand, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Vietnam |
Boeing 737-800 (3) Boeing 767-300ER (5) |
|
12 |
Космос |
Domestic flights |
|
|
13 |
Костромське авіапідприємство |
Domestic flights |
|
|
14 |
МЧС Росії |
Domestic flights |
|
|
15 |
Оренбурзькі авіалінії (Integrated with "Rossiya" in 2016) |
Czech Republic, Israel, Germany, Bulgaria |
Boeing 737-800 (16) – transfered to "Rossiya" Boeing 777-200 (3) – transfered ro "Rossiya" |
|
16 |
Польот |
International cargo and passenger flights (no activity since December 2014) |
Hawker 800 (1) Hawker Siddeley HS-125 (1) Saab 2000 (1) Saab 340b (1) |
|
17 |
Росія |
Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, UK, Italy, France, Czech Republic, Turkey, Bulgaria, Egypt, Israel, CIS |
Airbus A319-100 (26) Airbus A320-200 (5) Boeing 737-800 (16, 2 preordered) Boeing 747-400 (7, 2 preordered) Boeing 777-300 (5) Boeing 777-200 (2) Boeing 777-300ER (5 preordered) |
|
18 |
Руслайн |
Armenia |
Bombardier CRJ-100 (10) Bombardier CRJ-200 (8) Bombardier Challenger 850 (1) Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia (3) |
|
19 |
СарАвіа |
Czech Republic, Turkey, Armenia, Egypt |
Embraer-195 (2 leased from Celestial Aviation Trading 33 Limited, Ireland) |
|
20 |
Северсталь |
Finland, Bulgaria |
Bombardier CRJ-200 (6) |
|
21 |
Сіріус Аеро |
Charter flights |
Embraer Legacy 600 (1) Hawker 700 (3) Hawker 850XP (2) Hawker 1000A (1) |
|
22 |
Трансаеро |
USA, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy, Lithuania, Croatia, Greece, Cyprus, France, Portugal, Czech Republic, UK, Turkey, OAE, Israel, China, Tailand, Singapore, India, Egypt, Tunis, Kazakhstan |
|
|
23 |
Тулпар Ейр |
Domestic flights |
|
|
24 |
Уральські Авіалінії |
Kazakhstan, Turkey, Azerbaidjan, Spain, Kyrgyzia, Bulgaria, OAE, Tzdjikistan, Armenia, Greece, Italy, Czech Republic, China, Finland, Israel, Gerogia |
Airbus A319-100 (7) Airbus A320-200 (19) Airbus A321-200 (11) |
|
25 |
Центр-Юг |
Charter flights in Russia and CIS |
|
|
26 |
Ямал |
Sweden, Turkey, Montenegro, Armeniam Greece, Central Asia |
Airbus A320-200 (7) Airbus A321-200 (2) Boeing 737-400 (3) Boeing 737-500 (1) Bombardier CRJ200 (10) Bombardier Challenger 850 (1) |
|
27 |
Якутія |
Germany, Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan, China, Kyrgyzia, South Korea |
Boeing 757-200F Cargo(1) Boeing 737-800 (4) Bombardier Q400 (3) Bombardier Q300 (3) |
|
28 |
Metrojet |
Charter flights |
Airbus A321 (3) |
|
29 |
Cambodia Angkor Air |
China, Tailand, Vietnam |
Airbus A321-200 (4)
|
|
30 |
S7 Airlines |
EU, Asia, North America, Pacific region |
Airbus A319-100 (19) Airbus A320-200 (19, 11 preordered) Airbus A321-200 (6) Airbus A320neo (2 preordered) Airbus A321neo (3 preordered) Boeing 737MAX (9 preordered) Boeing 737-800 (19) Boeing 767-300ER (2) Embraer E170/175 (17 preleased) |
|
31 |
Red Wings |
Austria, Montenegro, Finland, Balkans, Egypt, Meditteranean Area |
|
|
32 |
Jetstar Pacific (Vietnam) |
Vietnam economy class domestic airlines |
Boeing 737-400 (5) Airbus A320-200 (2, 8 preordered) |
|
33 |
Nordwind Airlines |
Charter flights to Jordan, Tailand, Cuba, Vietnam, Mexico, Tunis, Dominican Republic, Israel |
Airbus A321-200 (4) Boeing 767-300ER (1) Boeing 777-200ER (3) |
|
34 |
Ifly |
Regular and charter flights to Italy, Belgium, China |
Airbus A330-300 (2) Boeing 757-200 (2) |
|
35 |
Авіалінії Мордовії |
Domestic flights |
|
|
36 |
Іжавіа |
Domestic flights |
|
|
37 |
Газпромавіа |
Domestic and international cargo and passenger flights |
Boeing 737-700 (2) Boeing 737-700 BBJ (1) |
|
38 |
ІрАеро |
Domestic flights, China |
Bombardier CRJ200 (6) |
|
39 |
Оренбуржье |
Domestic flights |
|
|
40 |
NordAvia |
Charter domestic passenger flights |
Boeing 737-500 (9) |
The vast majority of these aircrafts are manufactures by Airbus [1] and Boeing [2]. These companies continue the maintenance of these aircrafts that also fly to the airports of the European countries and other countries that have officially recognized the annexation of Crimea by Russia.
Table №2 lists the new orders by the airlines that they expect to be fulfilled by the manufacturers in the next few years.
The fleet and the orders of the bankrupt carriers, such as Transaero (discontinued activities on October 26, 2015), have been transferred to Aeroflot, the leader of the Russian air transportation and illegal flights to the occupied Crimea, as well as its subsidiaries and the S7 Group holding (S7 Airlines / Globus).
On August 24, 2016 Aeroflot has received the first two Airbus A321 aircrafts earlier ordered by the bankrupt carrier Transaero.
The fleet of the Donavia and Orenburg Airlines that used to fly to the occupied Crimea but in March 2016 stopped doing so under their names and integrated into the Rossia airline, has come under the control of the latter. Rossia itself is part of the Aeroflot group.
As of November 2016, the Russian airlines-violators offending fly to the airport of Simferopol on the boards of Airbus and Boeing, also owning aircrafts by Bombardier and Embraer.
[1] Aibus - one of the largest aircraft building companies headquartered in Toulouse, France. Production includes passenger, freight and military transport aircrafts. Production is concentrated in France, Germany, Spain and the UK.
[2] Boeing - one of the two largest aircraft manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Chicago, USA. Production includes passenger, freight and military transport aircrafts and space technology.
Among the companies providing leasing services for the vehicles of the Russian Ural Airlines and S7 Airlines / Globus are: the ACG (Aviation Capital Group) headquartered in the US, the ILFC (International Lease Finance Corporation) that in 2014 was absorbed by the Dutch AerCap (headquartered in Amsterdam) and Air Lease Corporation (ALC) headquartered in Los Angeles, USA.
NOTE:
In December 2014 the administration of President Barack Obama has adopted a number of decisions on sanctions for any action in the occupied Crimea.
In April of that same year, in accordance with the ICAO Convention on International Civil Aviation, Eurocontrol (European Organization for Safety of Air Navigation), banned European airlines from fying to the Russia-occupied Crimea and in Sevastopol. [1].
Ukraine has officially accused [2] Russia of violating the multilateral and bilateral international agreements and the provisions of the European Air Navigation Plan, as well as of ignoring the established borders of the Flight Information Regions (FIR) [3].
The Air Navigation Services in the sky over the Crimean Peninsula are under the Ukrainian jurisdiction, but because of Russia's annexation of the Crimea Autonomous Republic, had to move the dispatch center from Simferopol to Dnipropetrovsk and Odessa.
However, due to the inability of the state to guarantee the security of Ukraine flights over the occupied territories, in March 2014, it was decided to close the Simferopol and Belbek airports and lower airspace and restrict movement in the Simferopol flight information region.
At the same time, Ukraine continues to service the Black Sea FIR within its control.
In April 2014, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) identified Russia's actions towards seizing control of the airspace of Crimea and the Black Sea that belong to the Ukrainian FIR as illegal [4].
[1] The prohibition of flights to the occupied Crimea for European airlines: http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/198796.html
[2] Information from the state enterprise AviaRukh of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine: http://uksatse.ua/index.php?act=Part&CODE=247&id=264
[3] The FIR (Flight Information Region) -- a specified region of airspace in which a flight information service and an alerting service (ALRS) are provided.
[4] The 16.04.2014 publication in the online edition of the Tyzhden magazine: http://tyzhden.ua/News/107719
* * *
For the last two and a half years, the BSNews and Maidan of Foreign Affairs monitoring group has been conducting daily monitoring of the illegal flights to the occupied Crimea with further publications in the media on the airlines offenders.
* * *
The investigation is conducted within the project The International Sanctions Over the Annexation of Crimea: Efficiency and Effect, Adherence and Circumvention Techniques, made possible by the support of the Media Development Fund of the US Embassy in Ukraine. The opinions of the authors do not necessarily coincide with the official position of the US government.
* * *
The monitoring of the violations of the international sanctions against Russia and the legal regime of the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea is supported by the European Program Initiative of the Renaissance International Foundation. The position of Renaissance International Foundation may not reflect the opinion of the authors.
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- 26.11.2019 20 aircrafts operated by 8 Russian airlines flew to the occupied Crimea on November 25
- 24.11.2019 23 aircrafts operated by 9 Russian airlines flew to the occupied Crimea on November 23
- 21.11.2019 23 aircrafts operated by 9 Russian airlines flew to the occupied Crimea on November 20
- 20.11.2019 23 aircrafts operated by 9 Russian airlines flew to the occupied Crimea on November 19
- 19.11.2019 21 aircrafts operated by 8 Russian airlines flew to the occupied Crimea on November 18
- 18.11.2019 27 aircrafts operated by 9 Russian airlines flew to the occupied Crimea on November 17