Blacklisted Russian Cargo Plane Lands in SA: What We Know

A US-blacklisted Russian Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane touched down in Upington, South Africa, on 2 October 2025—a landing that was routine for local authorities but politically explosive given the operator’s sanctions status. The flight, carrying general cargo including helicopters and acrobatic aircraft, has raised questions about South Africa’s balancing act between ties with Moscow and the West.

Aircraft: Ilyushin Il-76 ·
Operator: Abakan Air (Moscow) ·
Origin: Iran ·
First landing: Upington, Northern Cape ·
Second landing: Lanseria, Gauteng ·
Date: October 2025

Eight key specifications from the event, one pattern: the aircraft’s movements were routine on paper but politically explosive under the surface.

Where did the Russian cargo plane land?

What route did the Ilyushin Il-76 take?

• The flight originated in Iran, stopped in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, then entered South African airspace. It first touched down at Upington International Airport in the Northern Cape on 2 October 2025 (DefenceWeb).
• After unloading, the aircraft flew empty to Lanseria International Airport near Johannesburg and refuelled before departing South Africa on 3 October 2025 (Business Insider Africa).

Which airports were involved?

• Upington International Airport – first landing, cargo offload.
• Lanseria International Airport – second landing for refuelling only.

Why was the plane blacklisted by the US?

The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Abakan Air in June 2024 for transporting Russian military equipment and supporting Russia’s defence industrial base during the war in Ukraine (Kyiv Post).

What official statements were issued by South Africa?

• Department of Transport spokesperson Collen Msibi said the aircraft complied with South African civil aviation regulations and carried general non-military cargo (DefenceWeb).
• Msibi noted the permit was applied for on 9 September 2025 and issued on 23 September 2025. The government stated it had no knowledge of Abakan Air being blacklisted by the US, as South Africa follows UN sanctions, not unilateral US ones.

The implication: Pretoria’s claim of ignorance may be legally correct but strategically naive.

What was in the Russian plane that landed in Upington?

What type of cargo did the Il-76 carry?

• According to the South African Department of Transport, the aircraft carried general cargo, including civilian helicopters and aerobatic aircraft (Freight News).
• No official cargo manifest has been released, leaving the exact composition unverified.

Was the cargo military or civilian?

• South African officials say it was non-military. Aviation analyst Darren Olivier, director of African Defence Review, stated there was no evidence the aircraft carried military-related or nuclear cargo (DefenceWeb).
• However, the US sanctions target Abakan Air specifically for military-linked flights, raising the question of dual-use items.

Did the plane depart empty after unloading?

Yes. Flight tracking data shows the aircraft departed Upington empty and landed at Lanseria for fuel before leaving South Africa (Business Insider Africa).

What this means: until a manifest is released, the question of dual-use goods remains open.

Why is South Africa supporting Russia?

What are the historical ties between South Africa and Russia?

• South Africa and Russia have maintained diplomatic and economic relations since the Soviet era. Russia supported the African National Congress during apartheid, creating a lasting political bond (Wikipedia).
• In the post-apartheid period, trade and military cooperation have grown, with Russia becoming a key arms supplier to South Africa.

How does South Africa’s stance align with BRICS?

• South Africa is a member of BRICS, the intergovernmental bloc that includes Russia, China, India, and Brazil. The group has positioned itself as an alternative to Western-led institutions (Wikipedia).
• South Africa has consistently abstained from UN resolutions condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has resisted enforcing Western sanctions.

What is the impact of US sanctions on bilateral relations?

The landing has added strain to US-South Africa relations. The US State Department expressed concern, and opposition parties in South Africa accused the government of undermining international sanctions (Kyiv Post).

How have other African nations responded?

• Many African nations maintain neutral or pro-Russia positions, with several abstaining from UN votes on Ukraine. Russia has signed military cooperation agreements with over 20 African countries.

The pattern: what Pretoria calls neutrality, Washington sees as a loophole.

Are there Russian bases in Africa?

Which African countries host Russian military facilities?

• Russia has a naval logistics base agreement with Sudan (currently stalled), and maintains a presence in Syria, but no formal bases in sub-Saharan Africa (Wikipedia).
• Russian military advisors operate in the Central African Republic, Mali, and Libya, often under the cover of private military companies like the Wagner Group.

What is the status of the Russian base in Sudan?

A 2020 agreement to establish a Russian naval logistics base in Sudan was suspended after the 2021 coup, but negotiations reportedly continue.

Does Russia have a naval base in Africa?

No fully operational Russian naval base exists in Africa. The planned Sudan facility would be Russia’s first in the region.

How does this relate to the cargo plane incident?

The Upington landing has revived speculation that Russia is seeking more African basing rights, though aviation analyst Darren Olivier said there was no evidence the aircraft was under contract to any government (DefenceWeb).

The implication: basing rights are one thing; operational access through air cargo is another, and both are in play.

Who are Russia’s allies in Africa?

Which African nations have close ties with Russia?

• Algeria, Egypt, Angola, and the Central African Republic are among Russia’s strongest African partners, with deep arms sales and mining cooperation.
• Mali and Burkina Faso have also aligned with Russia following coups, using Wagner Group mercenaries for security.

What is the role of the Wagner Group in Africa?

• The Wagner Group has provided security, mining concessions, and military training in the Central African Republic, Mali, and Libya. The group is under US and EU sanctions.
• Its activities have drawn international criticism and linked to resource extraction deals.

How do arms sales and mining deals shape alliances?

Russia is the second-largest arms supplier to Africa after China. In return, Russian firms secure access to gold, diamonds, and uranium mines – a pattern that reinforces diplomatic support.

Is South Africa considered a key ally?

• South Africa is Russia’s strongest diplomatic partner in southern Africa, but not a military ally. No Russian bases or permanent troops are stationed on South African soil (DefenceWeb).
• However, repeated incidents like the Lady R affair in 2022 and now the Upington landing suggest a pattern of logistical cooperation that may be closer than official statements indicate.

The consequence: every flight like this tests how far Pretoria can push non-alignment before Washington pushes back.

Timeline of events

• 9 September 2025 – Abakan Air applies for a foreign operator permit to land in South Africa (DefenceWeb).
• 23 September 2025 – Permit issued by the South African Department of Transport.
• 2 October 2025 – Heavily loaded Ilyushin Il-76 lands at Upington after stopping in Dar es Salaam.
• 2–3 October 2025 – Cargo offloaded; aircraft flies empty to Lanseria, refuels, and departs.
• 3 October 2025 – News outlets report the landing. Transport Department defends the operation.
• 6–7 October 2025 – US and international media pick up the story; opposition parties demand inquiry.

The timeline shows that from permit application to political fallout took less than a month.

What we know for sure – and what remains unclear

Voices from the controversy

“The aircraft was carrying general non-military cargo, including civilian helicopters and aerobatic aircraft. It was a routine commercial cargo operation that complied with South African civil aviation regulations.”

– Collen Msibi, spokesperson for the South African Department of Transport (DefenceWeb)

“The government must explain why a blacklisted Russian plane was allowed to land without any public scrutiny. We demand a full investigation into the cargo and the authorization process.”

– Democratic Alliance shadow minister (opposition party) (DefenceWeb)

“There is no evidence that this aircraft was carrying military-related or nuclear cargo. But the fact that it’s a blacklisted operator means every flight is viewed through a geopolitical lens.”

– Darren Olivier, director of African Defence Review (DefenceWeb)

The landing of a US-blacklisted Russian cargo plane in South Africa is not an isolated event – it fits a pattern of logistical cooperation that tests the boundaries of South Africa’s non-alignment policy. For the US, the question is whether friendly warnings will be enough to prevent future incidents. For South Africa, the choice is increasingly binary: either enforce sanctions it has not endorsed, or risk losing access to Western markets and diplomatic goodwill.

Related reading: Russian blacklisted cargo plane lands in Upington · Blacklisted Russian IL-76 carried non-military cargo to Upington

Related coverage: Russian military operations fördjupar bilden av Russian Invasion of Ukraine – Timeline and 2026 Status.

Frequently asked questions