On 25 May SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD836 took off from Brasilia BRA and is en route to Casablanca MAR. It filed a flightplan to fly from Casablanca to Moscow on 26 May.

On 25 May Tu-214R MULLET RF-64514 XAV9022 took off from Kazan and is flying north on another test flight.

On 18 May Il-76MD-90A RF-78663 flew from Moscow (CKL) to Khmejmim Airbase SYR later departing and flying to LBY.

On 23 May SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD836 took off from Moscow (VKO) and flew to Casablanca MAR. On 24 May it took off and could eventually be en route to Central/South America.

On 23 May Tu-214R MULLET RF-64514 XAV9022 took off from Kazan and flew northwest. It is now flying north along the RUS – FIN border in what is likely a SIGINT mission. I posted yesterday that I did not know for what or where RUS would use this aircraft; however, today it seems obvious.

On 22 May Tu-214R MULLET RF-64514 XAV9022 took off from Kazan and flew to Novosibirsk (with a little loop on the way). After approximately two hours it took off and flew back to Kazan. It appears that there is a concerted effort to get this aircraft back into service.

On 21 May Fars Air Qeshm B747 EP-FAB QFZ9975 (on its first flight after returning from Moscow on 07 May and where it had been since 28 Feb) flew from Tehran (IKA) IRN to Moscow (SVO). On 22 May it flew back to Tehran.

More spoofing: On 22 May Aviakon Tsitotrans Il-76TD CANDID RA-76807 (flying with Gelix Airlines ICAO/IATA codes) took off from Moscow (ZIA) and is likely en route to DZA; however, it was spoofed flying over UKR.

On 21 May Tu-214R MULLET RF-64514 XAV9022 took off from Kazan and is north.

On 20 May Putin and entourage returned to Moscow from Beijing CHN.

On 19 May Il-96PU CAMBER Airborne Command Posts RA-96024 RSD115 & RA-96025 RSD729 flew from Moscow (VKO) to St P-Burg (LED). Both aircraft are now airborne and likely headed to Beijing CHN with Putin on board one of them.

On 19 May SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96018 RSD837 took off from Moscow (VKO) and is likely headed for CHN. This flight likely supports Putin’s visit.

On 18 May Tu-214R MULLET RF-64514 XAV9023 took off from Kazan and is headed south. On 05 May it flew to Akhtubinsk (yellow dot), took off and flew a navigation leg out east before returning to Kazan. We may see something similar today.

Thank you. I was going to ask and see if you copied the aircraft. Not only is its registration number outside other Il-76MD-90A its Mode-S (1B2A23) is as well! I guess the FSB gets its own registration and Mode-S.

On 17 May FSB Il-76MD-90A RF-76323 RFF76323 departed K-Grad (KGD) and is headed north over the Baltic. This is the first recorded flight for this aircraft on FR24.

On 17 May SFS Il-76MD CANDID RA-78840 RFF78840 took off likely from Moscow (CKL) and flew to Machulishchi Airbase near Minsk BLR. It took off after approximately 90 minutes and appears to be en route back to RUS.

I recently posted on the Il-114 RA-54116 and its flights to Novaya Zemlya and Nagurskoe Airbase on Franz Josef Land accompanied by Il-76MD-90A(E) RA-78650. Here is a media article of the event (with no mention of RA-78650). zamin.uz/en/technolog...

Putin will be visiting CHN on 19-20 May. www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/...

There have been some notable flights recently by Aviakon Tsitotrans Il-76TD CANDID RA-76807 (flying with Gelix Airlines ICAO/IATA codes) and Gelix Airlines Il-76TD CANDID RA-76373. These flights began on 04 May and continue.

On 14-15 May Ministry of Emergency Situations Il-76TD CANDID RA-76841 SUM9125 flew Moscow (ZIA) – Astrakhan – Sharjah UAE – Mogadishu SOM. After less than three hours on the ground it took off as SUM9126 and is headed north.

More spoofing: On 14 May Rada Airlines Il-62MGr CLASSIC EW-450TR took off from Minsk BLR and was spoofed flying over UKR.

Here is something really unusual: On 14 May Syrian Air Il-76T CANDID YK-ATA CS/FCN RFF8832 flew from Khmejmim Airbase to Damascus. This aircraft was last seen on 08 Dec 2024 and is my choice for how Assad escaped to Khmejmim for transport to Moscow on a VKS CANDID. www.twz.com/air/the-myst...

This is different: On 14 May Alpha Crux Airlines Il-76TD-90VD CANDID RA-76503 (formerly Volga-Dnepr) flew from Novosibirsk to K-Grad (KGD). This aircraft historically operates an airbridge from Cape Town ZAF to Russia's Novolazarevskaya Station for the Antarctic Logistics Center International ATA.

On 14 May SFS Il-62M CLASSIC RA-86559 RFF7321 took off from Moscow (CKL) and is being spoofed over UKR. This spoofing is usually done by charter aircraft or Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) aircraft.

On 13 May Meraj Airlines A321 EP-SSN IRAN05 (Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi) took off from Tehran (THR) IRN and just entered Pakistani airspace. It could also be en route to Delhi IND.

On 13 May SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD708 took off from Moscow (VKO) and is en route to Delhi IND with Russian Foreign Minister Sergej Lavrov on board.

So the SARMAT was launched from Plesetsk. www.thebarentsobserver.com/security/nuc...

On 13 May VKS An-148 RA-61733 flew from Moscow (CKL) to Plesetsk.

On 13 May Aviakon Tsitotrans Il-76TD CANDID RA-76807 GLX9833 flew from Moscow (SVO) to K-Grad (KGD) and is scheduled to depart on 14 May and fly to Novosibirsk.

On 12 May Il-76MD-90A(E) CANDID (with air-to-air refueling capability) RA-78650 took off from Moscow (ZIA) and was last tracked flying towards Novaya Zemlya with a possible destination of Rogachevo Airbase. Coincidentally (or not) Il-114 RA-54116 also appears to be en route to Rogachevo.

On 12 May SFS Il-62M CLASSIC RA-86495 took off from Vladivostok and is headed west. It took off from Moscow on 10 May headed east and I posted that it was perhaps taking PRK troops that participated in the Victory Day Parade back to the PRK. I still think that is quite possible.

On 12 May Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) Il-76TD CANDID RA-76363 SUM9121 flew from Moscow (ZIA) to K-Grad (KGD).

On 09 May Iran Air B747 EP-ICD flew likely from Tehran IRN to Zvartnots International Airport ARM. It took off on 10 May and returned to IRN. As ARM is a Russian ally we should look for more such flights.

On 10 May Mahan Air A340 EP-MJC IRM098 took off from Tehran IRN and flew to Moscow (SVO). After approximately two and a half hours on the ground it took off as IRM099 and is en route back to Tehran.

I had been wondering about two trips to Pyongyang PRK on 23 & 26 Apr by SFS Il-62M CLASSIC RA-86559. After watching the parade yesterday and seeing PRK troops participating I wonder if these flights brought them to Moscow?

On 09 May Il-76MD-90A RF-78663 flew from an unknown location likely to Khotilovo Airbase (yellow dots). It took off later climbing in a spiral near the airbase (anti-SAM maneuver) and was last tracked descending near Ulyanovsk.

On 09 May SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82037 RFF8768 flew from an unknown location in RUS to Khmejmim Airbase SYR. It took off approximately two hours later as RFF805 and was last tracked as it descended near al Khadim LBY. On 05 May this aircraft returned to RUS from a trip to Lomé TGO and LBY.

On 09 May Gelix Airlines Il-76TD CANDID RA-76373 GLX9831 and Aviakon Tsitotrans Il-76TD RA-76807 GLX9820 took off from Naypyidaw MMR and are en route to Kolkata IND.

Parade over, VKS An-148 RA-61733 is RTB. Not that impressive this year.

On 08 May Gelix Airlines Il-76TD CANDID RA-76373 GLX9830 and Aviakon Tsitotrans Il-76TD RA-76807 GLX9819 took off from Novosibirsk and are en route to Naypyidaw MMR.

After leaving K-Grad and flying to Novosibirsk, on 08 May Aviakon Tsitotrans Il-76TD CANDID RA-76807 GLX9819 & Gelix Airlines Il-76TD CANDID RA-76373 GLX9830 are scheduled to fly to Naypyidaw MMR.

I did not think about that! I just checked and to date, Gelix is not sanctioned so maybe hiding Aviakon Tsitotrans as Gelix is more than feasible. Good catch! Additionally, Abakan Air and Volga-Dnepr are also sanctioned. Who knows, maybe Gelix will be as well soon.

It’s wildfire time again: On 07 May MChS Be-200ChS (fire-fighting variant) RF-31140 continues to operate out of Krasnoyarsk.

On 07 May Aviakon Tsitotrans Il-76TD CANDID RA-76807 departed K-Grad and is en route to Novosibirsk. This aircraft was scheduled to fly to Delhi IND but did not. I have this aircraft listed as Avikon Tsitotrans but it flies with a Gelix Airlines ICAO code. Maybe it has been leased or sold to Gelix?

On 05 May Tu-214R MULLET RF-64514 XAV9022 took off from Kazan and is headed north on another test flight. This is this aircraft’s seventh test flight since 24 Apr.

Well finally: I have been waiting for this. After flying from Tehran IRN to Moscow (SVO) on 28 Feb, Fars Air Qeshm B747 EP-FAB QFZ9974 finally appears to be en route back to IRN. We may soon see this sanctioned aircraft flying more missions. This aircraft is set up for cargo and not passengers.

On 04 May Aviakon Tsitotrans Il-76TD CANDID RA-76807 flew to K-Grad (KGD). On 05 May it has an estimated take off time of 1810Z with a flightplan for Delhi IND as GLX9830.

On 05 May Tu-214R RF-64514 XAV9022 took off from Kazan and is headed north on another test flight. I am going to watch flight length and airspeed.