In this investigation, we continue to examine the activities of the Russian company Aviacon Zitotrans, which we previously analyzed in an earlier study.

Thanks to new data obtained by the Ukrainian hacker group Cyber Resistance, we will continue to detail the activities of Aviacon Zitotrans. Additionally, we will share intriguing facts related to the operations of a Serbian company under Russian management, the presence of Russian military intelligence officers among the company’s crew, and other noteworthy details.

Let us recall that Aviacon Zitotrans JSC specializes in cargo transportation both within Russia and on international routes.

Despite being subjected to international sanctions for transporting arms and military equipment to African and other countries, the company has continued its illegal activities undeterred. In light of Russia’s international isolation, the company has become an effective tool for circumventing global sanctions.

The company operates flights to countries deemed “friendly” to Russia, transporting weaponry, military equipment, and hazardous items such as uranium ores and equipment for nuclear power plants.

The company’s regular pilots include former and active personnel from various Russian security agencies, such as the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM), the Russian Army’s Military Transport Aviation, and others.

Overall, this company serves as a tool for transporting various goods in the interests of Russia’s military-industrial complex.

 

A Serbian Company with Russian Roots

In the previous investigation, we discussed the transportation of equipment for various purposes, both for military needs and for circumventing international sanctions.

Now, we will demonstrate how sanctions are bypassed in practice, using the example of the Serbian company HOLBERG, which, as it turns out, is not entirely Serbian. More on this below.

According to airwaybill №410-00097462, obtained during the investigation, Zitotrans transported electronic goods from Dubai Airport to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on December 6, 2022. Interestingly, the sender was listed as the Serbian company HOLBERG, registered in Novi Sad, Serbia, while the recipient was the Russian company AV Distri, registered in Kaliningrad, Russian Federation.

Airwaybill №410-00097462

 

All would seem ordinary, except for the fact that the owner of the Serbian company HOLBERG is a Russian entrepreneur from Kaliningrad, Denis Bushuyev, who has close ties to Vitaly Mazur, the owner of AV Distri.

 Details About the Allegedly Serbian Company “HOLBERG”

 

This becomes evident when performing a search query using the email address of the Serbian company—[email protected]. The query leads to the Russian company DS Stroy, registered in Kaliningrad, which, interestingly, uses the same email address and shares the same owner, Denis Bushuyev, as the Serbian company HOLBERG. It appears they did not even attempt to conceal these connections.


Details About the Russian Company LLC “DS Stroy”

 

An analysis of Denis Bushuyev’s connections to other Russian companies reveals that he, along with Vitaly Mazur, the owner of AV Distri, is a co-owner of the companies Dilyp and AV Distri.

 Co-Owners of the Company “Dilyp”

 

Co-Owners of the Company “AV Distri”

 

As evidenced by the data on AV Distri, on April 22, 2022, Denis Bushuyev transferred 100% of the company’s shares to Vitaly Mazur. Shortly thereafter, on April 28, 2022, the Serbian company HOLBERG was established under the management of Denis Bushuyev.

This points to the creation of a scheme designed to bypass international sanctions to acquire electronic components, likely for weapons production. A plausible explanation is that a company like Aviacon Zitotrans facilitates the transportation of these goods between two shell companies owned by Russian nationals. After all, it is highly improbable that an entire Il-76 cargo plane would be used to transport just 55 kilograms of electronics.

However, this is just one example of the sanction-evasion schemes employed by the Russian government and its affiliated companies.

 

Other Flights Operated by Aviacon Zitotrans

The example of the Serbian company HOLBERG illustrates how Russia circumvents international sanctions imposed against it.

It is clear that countries “friendly” to Russia either do not impose sanctions or largely fail to enforce international restrictions. Exploiting these gaps, Russia manages to acquire critical goods for its military and civilian industries. The primary destinations for Aviacon Zitotrans Il-76 flights include the UAE, China, Armenia, Turkey, and several African nations.

Airwaybills for these flights typically list items such as electronics, mobile phones, lithium-ion batteries, mobile phone screens, automotive parts, servers, processors, data storage devices, iPads, Oculus VR headsets, MacBooks, cosmetic products, and much more.

As evident, the range of goods transported by this company is remarkably diverse. While most of these items are labeled as civilian goods, it is highly likely that many of them are dual-use items actively utilized by Russia’s military-industrial complex.

Below, we will present several airwaybills as examples.

 

Airwaybill No. 410-00097646 for the transportation of lithium batteries from the British company Premium Trading International to the Russian company Citylink Limited

 

Airwaybill No. 410-00112442 for the transportation of iPad, Oculus VR Headset, and MacBook from the UAE company Mobile Trade Solutions to the Russian company Alibaba.Com

 

Airwaybill No. 410-00097731 for the transportation of servers, processors, and data storage units from the Thai company RBW LAB CO to the Russian company COMPTEK

 

It would be possible to continue publishing numerous airwaybills, but there is little point in doing so. The key takeaway is that Aviacon Zitotrans serves as a critical link facilitating the transportation of goods, including sanctioned items, into Russia.

The backbone of the company’s fleet consists of Il-76TD aircraft. As of June 2023, the fleet included five units with the following registration numbers: 76502, 76842, 76846, 78765, and 76807. 

A document from which information about the availability and registration numbers of Il-76TD aircraft in the company “Aviacon Zitotrans” can be obtained.

 

Pilots of “Aviacon Zitotrans

The central figure of the previous investigation was Maksim Oxss, a former colonel of the Russian Aerospace Forces and a pilot in the aviation squadron of FGBU ASK EMERCOM of Russia, which operates under the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The heroes of this investigation could very well be the entire staff and all the pilots of Aviacon Zitotrans. However, for now, we will focus on two individuals: Alexey Nikolaevich Imetov and Evgeny Viktorovich Ostapenko.

The protagonists of today’s investigation are Alexey Nikolaevich Imetov and Evgeny Viktorovich Ostapenko.

 

Let’s start with Alexey Nikolaevich Imetov. He has been working at Aviacon Zitotrans since December 2015 as a flight operator for the Il-76TD. Before this, he studied at the Ulyanovsk Higher Aviation School of Civil Aviation (Institute), specializing as a flight attendant. After graduating, he worked at Transaero Airlines JSC as a senior flight attendant until 2015.

What drew attention, however, was not so much his biography but the fact that he was issued a certificate exempting him from mobilization as a valuable specialist.

Certificate of Mobilization Exemption for Aviacon Zitotrans Flight Operator Alexey Nikolaevich Imetov

 

The certificate indicates that Aviacon Zitotrans is considered a critically important enterprise for fulfilling tasks assigned by the President of the Russian Federation to aviation companies. It is not difficult to infer what these tasks entail, given that Aviacon Zitotrans conducts international flights to transport cargo for Rosoboronexport. In other words, it involves the transportation of weapons and military equipment to countries deemed “friendly” to Russia.

Another conclusion that arises is that, due to significant losses among military pilots and support personnel in the Russian Aerospace Forces, there is a need to mobilize civilian pilots from Russian airlines who previously served in military aviation.

Now let’s move on to the next flight operator of the company, Evgeny Viktorovich Ostapenko. His biography contains intriguing details, revealing that he is far from being a simple flight operator, as one might initially assume.

In 1995, Evgeny Ostapenko graduated from Irkutsk Higher Military Aviation Engineering School (Military Institute) (IVVAIU) with a specialization as an aviation mechanic engineer.

Personal Profile of Evgeny Ostapenko

 

From 1995 to 2022, Evgeny Ostapenko served in the Russian Army’s Military Transport Aviation as a flight engineer and flight inspector. According to his personal record, he was discharged into the reserve in 2022 upon reaching the maximum service age.

Particular attention should be given to his service in military unit 45097, the 117th Separate Military Transport Regiment. This regiment notably participated in supporting the operations of the Russian Army in Syria on behalf of the former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Evgeny Ostapenko also took part in the so-called deployments to Syria. For this, he was awarded a combat veteran certificate in 2017.

Deployment Certificate of Evgeny Ostapenko to Syria in 2016

 

 Combat Veteran Certificate of Evgeny Ostapenko, Issued in 2017

 

However, there is one document that suggests possible connections between Evgeny Ostapenko and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense, commonly known as the GRU.

Document Indicating Possible Links Between Evgeny Ostapenko and Russian Military Intelligence

 

According to the document, in May 2020, Evgeny Ostapenko signed a contract restricting his travel outside Russia. A year earlier, he was granted access to classified information. This may be related to his transfer to serve in military unit 25969 as a senior flight inspector.

However, there is also a possibility that he worked at the Moscow Intelligence Center (military unit 46188, located at Matrosskaya Tishina Street 10/270), which is situated within the premises of military unit 25969. This connection, if verified, could further substantiate links between Ostapenko and Russian military intelligence operations

It is highly likely that, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the GRU of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation decided to actively integrate its personnel into Russian companies involved in air transportation. Clearly, this was done to ensure control and facilitate the transport of “special” goods abroad and back to Russia—goods previously mentioned in this investigation.

Before moving on to the next part of the report, a personal question arises for Evgeny Nikolaevich: why do you conceal the existence of your daughter in official documents? And why, in the event of your death, have you designated Anastasia Evgenievna Kulyk as the sole recipient of payouts, identifying her as your daughter? Why not your son or your wife?

Assignment of Beneficiary for Payments in Case of Evgeny Ostapenko’s Death

 

About “Aviacon Zitotrans”

Developing the topic of the mobilization of aviation company employees, it is worth noting that Aviacon Zitotrans, for instance, has a clear protocol in place for handling situations where an employee receives a mobilization summons. This underscores the gravity of the situation regarding the losses of military pilots and support personnel within the Russian Armed Forces.

 Employee Actions in Case of Potential Mobilization in an Aviation Company

 

Thus, despite the important mission for their “homeland,” the primary factor keeping most of the company’s staff in place appears to be the threat of mobilization. It is unlikely that the key motivating factor is the salary, which, according to the income statement of one of the Il-76 crew members, averages 737,769 Russian rubles per year, or about $8,000 USD. This is relatively low pay, especially for an organization involved in transporting hazardous goods and handling shipments for Rosoboronexport.

Income Statement of One of the Crew Members of Il-76TD “Aviacon Zitotrans”

 

Regarding the fulfillment of Rosoboronexport orders and the overall functioning of Russian civil aviation, it is worth noting an interesting document that the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation sent to Rosaviation and the heads of civil aviation organizations. The document addresses a growing trend of failures in various components of Russian civil aircraft.

As seen, international sanctions have had a serious impact on the service life of aircraft. It is likely that in the near future, Russia may face a critical situation where not only civilian flights but also the transportation of “defense” products for Rosoboronexport will become nearly impossible due to the lack of suitable aircraft or their severely limited numbers.

Order from the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation Regarding an Aviation Incident

 

The management of Aviacon Zitotrans is also concerned about the condition of the aircraft. They have urged aircraft commanders and engineering-technical personnel, due to the harsh operating conditions and the increased level of danger (likely related to the activities of Russian insurgents in Russian cities), to make every effort to thoroughly inspect the aircraft and perform the necessary maintenance work.

Appeal from the Management of “Aviacon Zitotrans” to Staff for Thorough Aircraft Inspections Amid Challenging Operating Conditions

 

Thus, supplementing previous investigations regarding ‘AviaKon Tsitotrans’ and its pilots, it can be concluded that this company is engaged in the transportation of military products for ‘Rosoboronexport’ to countries friendly to the Russian Federation. It is likely that employees of the Russian military intelligence (GRU) of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation assist in this, potentially escorting aircraft to their destinations to monitor the process.

Another aspect is the use of fictitious companies, such as the Serbian company ‘HOLBERG’, to obtain sanctioned goods, which are subsequently used in the production of Russian military products

Based on the conducted investigation, the use of the Russian government’s aviation fleet is a complex issue. The activities of the company ‘AviaKon Tsitotrans’ were examined, with its staff mainly consisting of former pilots of the Russian military transport aviation, likely representatives of military intelligence, as well as individuals seeking to avoid mobilization.

Despite the company’s ability to carry out transport operations, it may face problems in the near future due to the wear and tear of its Il-76TD aircraft.

The international community must make every effort to monitor all companies involved in circumventing sanctions through the use of ‘AviaKon Tsitotrans’ aircraft, as well as continue to impose sanctions on the pilots and staff of this company.

In this investigation, we have not disclosed all pilots and personnel; however, we believe it is necessary to carefully examine this data in order to use it for appropriate actions in the future.

Read more publications based InformNapalm on the data from Cyber Resistance hacktivists

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