Jul 26, 2026
Russia’s state defense conglomerate Rostec is preparing to consolidate several aviation-related companies into a single holding company, a move that Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU) says reflects mounting structural problems in the country’s civil aviation sector rather than an operational reform.
According to the SZRU on July 26, the planned holding will combine passenger airline Red Wings, cargo carrier SkyGates, air ambulance operations, and leasing company Aviakapital-Service. Management of the new structure is expected to be transferred to Ilyushin Finance Co.
Russian authorities have presented the initiative as a way to centralize management and establish a unified aircraft maintenance system. However, the SZRU said the restructuring is intended to consolidate the financial reporting of struggling businesses, masking the deteriorating condition of individual companies.
The intelligence service said Red Wings is already experiencing operational difficulties. Of the airline’s three Boeing 777 aircraft, only one is currently operating scheduled flights, while a second is kept in reserve and the third is effectively out of service.
The SZRU also pointed to management disputes and the departure of qualified personnel as additional factors affecting the airline.
According to the SZRU, SkyGates is facing similar challenges, including shortages of aircraft engines and spare parts, extended maintenance timelines, and an aging fleet that has become increasingly difficult to keep operational under international sanctions.
The intelligence agency assessed that consolidating the companies under a single holding would not address the sector’s underlying constraints. Instead, it would primarily allow financial resources, personnel, and available components to be redistributed among the affiliated companies without increasing the number of aircraft, engines, or skilled workers.
“No reorganization scheme will restore Western component supplies to Russia, accelerate serial production of domestic aircraft, or stop the outflow of personnel exhausted by years of emergency decision-making,” the SZRU said.
According to the agency, Russia’s civil aviation sector continues to face long-term challenges driven by restricted access to foreign technology and components, an aging aircraft fleet, and a persistent shortage of qualified aviation specialists.
The latest assessment comes as Russia’s civil aviation sector continues to face mounting pressure under international sanctions.
Earlier this year, an investigation by Dallas Analytics found that the Russian military had increasingly relied on civilian airlines and commercial aircraft to transport troops, weapons, and military cargo as its dedicated military transport aviation struggled with maintenance and aircraft shortages. The report also documented the use of commercial carriers and dual-use airports to support Russia’s military logistics network.
Flying a mafia airlines these days is just like playing ruskie roulette.
Anytime flying russki airlines was a gamble with death, it’s just 10 times worse now.