Russian Military Plane Under US Sanctions Lands Secretly at Ben Gurion Airport
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
A Russian military Tu-154 aircraft, subject to U.S. sanctions for its past use by the Wagner group, secretly landed at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on Monday evening. The plane, typically used for high-ranking officials, departed Tuesday for Abu Dhabi amid a lack of information about its passengers or mission. The visit coincides with Russian diplomatic engagement concerning Iran and precedes scheduled peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A Russian Tu-154 military aircraft under U.S. sanctions landed secretly at Ben Gurion Airport.
- The aircraft was previously used by the Wagner mercenary group and is now sanctioned by the U.S.
- Israeli security officials declined to comment on the plane's arrival or departure.
- The plane departed for Abu Dhabi, where Russia-Ukraine peace talks are set to resume.
- The visit occurred during Russian diplomatic efforts involving Iran.
A Russian military Tu-154 aircraft, previously used by the Wagner mercenary group and currently under U.S. sanctions, landed at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on Monday evening. The plane, identified by its registration number RA-85042, departed Tuesday noon for Abu Dhabi. Information regarding the passengers and the purpose of its visit remains undisclosed. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicates the aircraft is typically used for transporting high-ranking officials. Israeli security authorities declined to comment on the plane's arrival.
The United States placed the aircraft on its sanctions list in May 2023, along with 37 other Russian planes, due to its use by the Wagner group, a private military company that operated in support of Russian interests before its use transitioned to the Russian army. The plane's visit occurs amidst Moscow's involvement in communications concerning a potential agreement between the U.S. and Iran. Last Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei in the Kremlin, accompanied by the Head of Russian Military Intelligence Igor Kostyukov. Rezaei stated after the meeting that "important regional issues were discussed with Putin," without providing further details.
The aircraft left Israel en route to Abu Dhabi, where peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to resume on Wednesday. However, no information has confirmed a link between the plane's stopover in Tel Aviv and these upcoming negotiations.
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