Accidents with Russian planes: what propagandists do not talk about
Accidents involving Russian aircraft are becoming the norm. In the last 24 hours alone, two incidents with Russian passenger planes were reported: one Superjet caught fire after landing at a Turkish airport, and another made an emergency landing in Krasnoyarsk due to a malfunction.
The frequent breakdowns are caused by sanctions imposed on the Russian aviation industry in response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. The European Union and the United States have banned the sale, supply, and maintenance of aircraft, spare parts, and equipment for Russian airlines. This has led to a shortage of spare parts and made technical maintenance more difficult. The world’s largest aircraft manufacturers have also ceased providing technical support and spare parts to Russian companies.
Without proper maintenance, flying on Russian airlines has become increasingly dangerous for passengers. In 2023 alone, nearly 700 incidents were recorded in Russia, most of which were due to technical malfunctions. The situation seems no better this year, as journalists have noted attempts by government agencies to “embellish” official airplane accident statistics. Despite this, Russia continues passenger air transportation, putting its citizens at risk.
After today’s incidents, Russian propagandists are blaming the West, claiming that sanctions endanger the lives of Russians. However, they conveniently omit the primary cause: the sanctions were imposed due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. To lift these restrictions and end the “aviation suffering” of Russians, the Kremlin must end the war and withdraw its forces from Ukraine.
