Abramovich's plane, on the black list of aircraft that the US prevents from flying

Washington, 18 Mar A private jet of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is on the US blacklist of a hundred aircraft that would have breached flight restrictions against Russia by the invasion of Ukraine. In addition to a private jet Gulfstream G650 from Abramovich, the list includes a hundred Boeing commercial aircraft from Russian airlines Aeroflot, AirbridgeCargo, Aviastar, Nordwind and Utair, and from Romania's Blue Air, the US Department of Commerce reported Friday. In a statement, that department indicated that these planes “have flown to Russia in apparent violation” of sanctions, and threatened fines and jail terms to those who fly with such aircraft without authorization anywhere in the world, including Russia. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Washington closed its airspace to Russian airlines and ordered that any aircraft manufactured in the United States must apply for a license to fly to or from Russia. The Department of Commerce emphasized that the loading of fuel, maintenance or repair of these aircraft is also subject to penalties. Although Abramovich is not part of the list of Russian oligarchs sanctioned in the United States, he was sanctioned by the United Kingdom government for his “decades-long close relationship” with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following these sanctions, which freeze Abramovich's assets and prohibit him from entering the UK, the Russian billionaire announced the sale of Chelsea.