A Tupolev Tu-154M, operated by the Russian Defense Ministry, touched down at Ben‑Gurion Airport in Israel on Sunday evening, according to FlightRadar24 tracking data.
The aircraft had departed from Chkalovsky Air Base near Moscow, the principal hub of the Ministry’s operations, which conducts VIP transport and official delegations for senior military and diplomatic missions.
This unit belongs to the 223rd Flight Unit of the Russian Defense Ministry, a sanctioned entity; the U.S. State Department alleges that the unit has moved personnel and equipment linked to the Wagner Group to countries where Wagner operates.
In May 2023, a U.S. action identified 37 aircraft associated with the unit as blocked property, including the specific aircraft marked RA‑85042.
The Jerusalem Post has contacted the Russian Embassy and various U.S. government agencies for a statement; the IDF did not respond to the request for comment.
The flight was placed under Executive Order 14024, which authorizes sanctions targeting Russia’s harmful foreign activities, including its conflict in Ukraine.