Landing of Il-76MD RA-76713 of the 224th flight detachment of the Russian Defense Ministry at Vnukovo airport on July 8, 2015. It's a beautiful plane and I rarely come across it.

1. A very spectacular military transport plane lands at a civilian airport

2. Open joint-stock company " State airline“224 Flight Squad” - Russian aviation enterprise, which is a subsidiary of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The airline provides air transport services in the interests of government agencies, and also performs irregular commercial cargo transportation in Russia and abroad. The airline operates in accordance with the Charter approved by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation.


3. The 224th Independent Transport Squadron was originally created in 1979 to provide transportation during the war in Afghanistan. For the purpose of secrecy, the detachment was formally assigned to the USSR MGA, but was staffed with crews and An-12 aircraft from the VTA regiments and performed the functions of an advisory squadron. The detachment was in Afghanistan from August 1979 to November 1988.


4. B modern history The state airline “224th Flight Detachment” was created on the basis of the 12th Military Transport Aviation Division of the Russian Air Force in accordance with the order of the President of the Russian Federation dated January 15, 1993 No. 37-rp “On ensuring the activities of the 223rd and 224th Flight Detachments of the Russian Ministry of Defense » for air transportation on instructions from the President of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (Ministry of Defense of Russia). This year, cargo transportation flights using Il-76 and An-124 aircraft began. In conditions of underfunding Armed Forces proceeds from transportation helped to somewhat improve the financial situation of the Air Force.


5. In 2008, as part of the military reform and to simplify the company’s activities on the international market, in accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated September 15, 2008 No. 1359 “On the open joint-stock company Oboronservice”, the airline was transformed into an open joint-stock company. 100% of the company belongs to the state represented by subsidiary company Ministry of Defense JSC Aviaremont.


6. The airline operates aircraft owned by the Russian Air Force. Flights in accordance with the flight training plan and tasks performed by the Air Force are carried out within the structure of the 6955th air base, in accordance with the regulations and documentation of the Russian Air Force. At the same time, in accordance with the constituent documents, under the “flag” of the 224th flight detachment, passenger and cargo transportation is carried out on domestic and international airlines to solve national economic problems in compliance with the requirements adopted in civil aviation, and under the control of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Also, the “flag” and call sign of the 224th flight detachment are periodically used for air transport abroad in the interests of the Air Force.


7. Il-76 aircraft stationed at the Migalovo, Taganrog-Central and Orenburg-2 airfields provide mainly transportation in the interests of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation. In particular, it is the airline’s planes that deliver motorcades to their destinations to transport top officials of Russia.


8. According to the airline’s charter, its aircraft have the right to parachute drop cargo and paratroopers from the air.


9. The airline's planes are painted in the colors of Aeroflot of the USSR.


10. The 224th flight detachment includes 15 Il-76MD and 9 An-124.


11.RA-76713

Full name - State Airline 224 Flight Detachment. This is a Russian aviation enterprise, which is a subsidiary of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The air carrier is engaged in air travel for government purposes. In addition, the 224th Flight Detachment irregularly carries out commercial cargo transportation throughout Russia and abroad.

The history of the 224th separate transport air squadron is connected with combat operations in Afghanistan. The unit was created to provide transportation between Afghanistan and the USSR. The detachment carried out this mission from 1979 to 1988.

The modern company was created already in 1993 on the basis of the 12th military transport aviation division. The company immediately began producing commercial transport, becoming an additional source of income for the Air Force.

The airline's aircraft fleet consists of aircraft, which are listed on the balance sheet of the Russian Air Force. The location of the company's fleet is Migalovo Airport.

Airline activities

The company's aircraft are used primarily for transportation related to the Office of the President. For example, it is this air carrier that delivers motorcades to transport the head of state to their destinations.

The aircraft of the 224th Flight Detachment, based at Seshcha Airport, specialize in transporting super-heavy and oversized cargo. They carry out transportation all over the world. It is these aircraft that transport “200 cargoes” from hot spots to Russia.

The carrier's aircraft can carry out parachute drops of both paratroopers and cargo. That is why these aircraft have been repeatedly involved in various types of military operations, for example, in joint exercises with NATO troops.

Commercial activities of the company

The double subordination of the 224th Flying Detachment carries with it a contradiction that has not yet been finally resolved. The fact is that the commercial transportation carried out by the company is at odds with Russian legislation, since it prohibits military personnel from carrying out any activities of a commercial nature.

Date of publication: 02/01/2018

A criminal case has been initiated for fraud against the ex-management of OJSC State Airlines 224th Flight Detachment. We are talking about an enterprise that provides air transportation on behalf of government agencies.

As we found out, the former deputy director of the company Dmitry Novitsky He has already been arrested, and the ex-director of the state airline, Konstantin Vartanov, is also facing criminal charges.

The criminal case of fraud (Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) in the 224th detachment was taken over by the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Initially, the investigative department of transport looked into the fraud. During the investigation it was established that in the period from 2010 to 2015. The company's top management embezzled funds that were allocated for organizing air transportation and freight forwarding services. The basis for the pre-investigation check, and based on its results, a criminal case, was a statement from the management of the joint-stock company, which revealed fraud on the part of its partner.

The exact amount of damage has not yet been established. But on this moment It is known that Rosoboronexport’s losses can be estimated at anywhere from several hundred million to 2 billion rubles.

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224 Flight Detachment, full name Open Joint Stock Company “State Airline “224 Flight Detachment”” is a Russian aviation enterprise, which is a subsidiary of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The airline provides air transport services in the interests of government agencies, and also performs irregular commercial cargo transportation in Russia and abroad. The airline operates in accordance with the Charter approved by the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation.

The 224th Independent Transport Squadron was originally created in 1979 to provide transportation during the war in Afghanistan. For the purpose of secrecy, the detachment was formally assigned to the USSR MGA, but was staffed with crews and An-12 aircraft from the VTA regiments and performed the functions of an advisory squadron. The detachment was in Afghanistan from August 1979 to November 1988.

In modern history, the State Airlines “224th Flight Detachment” was created on the basis of the 12th Military Transport Aviation Division of the Russian Air Force in accordance with the order of the President of the Russian Federation dated January 15, 1993 No. 37-rp “On ensuring the activities of 223 and 224 flight units” detachments of the Russian Ministry of Defense" for air transportation on instructions from the President of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (Ministry of Defense of Russia). This year, cargo flights began using Il-76 and An-124 aircraft. In conditions of underfunding of the Armed Forces, the proceeds from transportation helped to somewhat improve the financial position of the Air Force.

In 2008, as part of the military reform and to simplify the company’s activities on the international market, in accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of September 15, 2008 No. 1359 “On the open joint-stock company Oboronservice”, the airline was transformed into an open joint-stock company. 100% of the company is owned by the state, represented by a subsidiary of the Ministry of Defense, OJSC Aviaremont.

The airline operates aircraft owned by the Russian Air Force. Flights in accordance with the flight training plan and Air Force tasks are carried out within the structure of the 6955th air base, in accordance with the regulations and documentation of the Russian Air Force. At the same time, in accordance with the constituent documents, under the “flag” of the 224th Flight Detachment, passenger and cargo transportation is carried out on domestic and international airlines to solve national economic problems in compliance with the requirements accepted in civil aviation, and under the control of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation . Also, the “flag” and call sign of the 224th flight detachment are periodically used for air transport abroad in the interests of the Air Force.

Il-76 aircraft stationed at the Migalovo, Taganrog-Central and Orenburg-2 airfields provide mainly transportation in the interests of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation. In particular, it is the airline’s planes that deliver motorcades to their destinations to transport top officials of Russia.

An-124 aircraft stationed at Seshcha airfield perform a wide range of transportation of super-heavy and oversized cargo around the world, including North America(the corresponding permit from the US Department of Transportation was granted on February 2, 2010). Due to the presence of the unique An-124 technology, airlines carried out military transportation under agreements between Russian Federation and other countries, such as during Operation Serval and

NATO operations in Afghanistan.

According to the airline's charter, its aircraft have the right to parachute drop cargo and paratroopers from the air.

The airline's dual subordination status, contradictions in the constituent documents and Russian legislation, which prohibits military personnel from engaging in commercial activities, have repeatedly made the airline the subject of inspections by supervisory authorities. As of 2013, most of these problems have not been resolved.

The airline's planes are painted in the colors of Aeroflot of the USSR.

As Kommersant has learned, the Investigative Committee is investigating a criminal case of fraud on an especially large scale committed by the former management of OJSC State Airlines “224th Flight Detachment” - an enterprise that provides air transportation in the interests of government agencies, including the transportation of motorcades for first persons of Russia. The former deputy director of the detachment, Dmitry Novitsky, was arrested on charges of embezzling several hundred million rubles from JSC Rosoboronexport. The case also involves the former general director of the company, Konstantin Vartanov.

The criminal case of fraud (Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) in the 224th detachment was taken over by the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Initially, the investigative department of transport looked into the fraud. The first person involved in the case was the former deputy general director of the enterprise, Dmitry Novitsky, who, at the request of the investigation, was taken into custody by the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow. In addition to the standard arguments that Dmitry Novitsky does not intend to hide and interfere with the investigation of the criminal case, the defense also focused on the “illegal initiation of a criminal case, the absence of a crime,” where the amount of damage has not even been established. However, the defense failed to achieve a more lenient preventive measure in the Moscow City Court.

Meanwhile, according to Kommersant sources, during the investigation it was established that from 2010 to 2015 the leadership of the 224th flight detachment committed theft Money JSC Rosoboronexport, allocated for organizing air transportation and freight forwarding services. The basis for the pre-investigation check, and as a result of its results, the criminal case, was a statement from the management of the joint-stock company, which revealed fraud on the part of its partner. According to preliminary data, Rosoboronexport's losses can be estimated at amounts ranging from several hundred million to 2 billion rubles. However, the forensic financial examination, which should determine the exact amount of damage, has not yet been completed.

At the same time, Kommersant’s source in the Ministry of Defense, of which the 224th Flying Detachment is a subsidiary, claims that another person involved in this case is allegedly Dmitry Novitsky’s former boss, Konstantin Vartanov. He lost his position, along with his deputy, back in 2016 due to violations identified in the detachment’s activities, which later became part of a criminal case. According to some reports, we are talking about a multiple increase in prices for “logistics services” provided to Rosoboronexport. In particular, the detachment was engaged in the transportation of military and dual-use cargo to Vietnam, Syria, Algeria, Ethiopia, Cambodia and other countries. At the same time, the inflated prices allegedly occurred through the use of an intermediary company, which was controlled by the ex-management of the 224th flight detachment. The money received from Rosoboronexport, according to Kommersant’s source, was withdrawn from its accounts to several Middle Eastern banks. The Investigative Committee refused to comment on the progress of the investigation.

A preventive measure for Konstantin Vartanov, who disappeared from the sight of law enforcement agencies after the start of the investigation, has not yet been chosen. Note that in July 2015, Konstantin Vartanov was brought to administrative responsibility for the fact that the flight squad he led provided services for the training of aviation specialists without having a license for educational activities. Then the magistrate court imposed a fine of 30 thousand rubles on Konstantin Vartanov. According to SPARK data, in the same 2015, the revenue of the 224th flight detachment amounted to about 2 billion rubles, and net profit - 42 million rubles.

The 224th flight detachment was founded back in 1979. In particular, it provided the transportation of cargo and personnel during the war in Afghanistan. At that time, pilots were formally assigned to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. In 1993, a reorganization took place: by order of the President of Russia, the 224th flight detachment was repurposed for air transport on the instructions of the head of state, as well as various government agencies, including the transportation of motorcades of the country's top officials. However, commercial transportation remained an important activity, which was then supposed to replenish the Air Force budget. Now the detachment uses Il-76MD and An-124-100 aircraft from several military transport aviation regiments based at airfields in the European part of Russia.

It is curious that the office of the company itself is located in Sokolniki, literally a stone’s throw from the Matrosskaya Tishina pre-trial detention center. Perhaps this circumstance was the reason why the accused Novitsky was first assigned to the Medved pre-trial detention center, and then, when he did not admit guilt and refused to cooperate with the investigation, he was sent to the less comfortable Butyrka.

Dmitry Novitsky's lawyer refrained from commenting, citing the lack of consent of his client. Rosoboronexport, which is the injured party in the case, also refrained from commenting.

“This story does not directly concern me, so I don’t see any point in being interested in the fate of my predecessors,” the current general director of the 224th flight detachment, Vladimir Mikheychik, told Kommersant, in turn, confirming that documents were seized in the detachment.

Oleg Rubnikovich, Ivan Safronov