Volga-Dnepr An-124
Ukrainian justice minister Olha Stefanishyna believes Canadian efforts to confiscate a Volga-Dnepr Antonov An-124-150 will result in the heavy transport aircraft being transferred to Ukraine.
Stefanishyna said Canadian authorities have “begun the process” of seizing the jet, parked at Toronto Pearson airport, and that “painstaking work” has resulted in legal proceedings
“Seizure of the Russian [An-124] was one of my first aims in my first month as minister of justice,” she said.
“I am convinced that [the aircraft] will soon have a new home, in Ukraine, where it will serve for the benefit of our state.”
Canada’s government has moved to implement commitments to seize and redistribute, assets of individuals sanctioned over the Ukrainian conflict.
It initially used the authorisation in December 2022 to restrain financial sums from a company called Granite Capital Holdings, which it believed to be controlled by Russian businessman Roman Abramovich.
The An-124 became the second asset to be seized in June 2023.
Formerly operated by Russian outsize cargo carrier Volga-Dnepr Group, the aircraft bears the Russian registration RA-82078.
Canada’s government issued an order in February identifying several parties – including Russia’s Sberbank, various Volga-Dnepr entities, and Volga-Dnepr founder Alexei Isaikin – as owners or controllers of the jet.
Stefanishyna says Canadian authorities are applying to the Ontario Superior Court to secure the aircraft.
“This is another important step on the path to justice and the restoration of peace in Ukraine,” she said. “And this is a great example of how international law works in practice.”
Meanwhile, Volga-Dnepr said the privately-owned aircraft has been “illegally inspected”.
The airline said that it had tried to negotiate with Canadian authorities but had been unsuccessful.
As a result, in August 2024, the company initiated investment arbitration proceedings against the authorities.
”Lately, we have been receiving alarming reports and photos demonstrating illegal attempts to get aboard our aircraft by unauthorised personnel. Any technical works or maintenance operations performed by unqualified aviation specialists can lead to serious damage to the aircraft,” the airline said in a statement.
Volga-Dnepr said the aircraft had been illegally retained when carrying out a flight carrying humanitarian goods.
