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Polish State-Linked Helicopter Plant Exposed for $1.3M Ties to Russian Military Industry
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![Photo of Liubava Petriv]( "Photo of Liubava Petriv")
A Polish state-linked aviation factory was implicated in deals with Russia’s defense sector for helicopter maintenance and upgrades, according to a joint investigation by InformNapalm and Militant Intelligence.
Documents obtained in a joint cyber operation show that Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze nr 1 (WZL-1) in Łódź transferred more than $1,3 million to ‘Helicopters of Russia’ through sanctioned Sberbank in January 2022. The payments were made less than a month before Russian troops launched their assault on Ukraine.
WZL-1, which services the Polish Armed Forces alongside private clients, has long specialized in overhauling Soviet-designed Mi-2, Mi-8/17, Mi-14, and Mi-24 helicopters. In recent years, it also began working with Western aircraft such as Sikorsky, AgustaWestland, and Eurocopter.
Analysts suggest the transfers were likely linked to spare parts and components for Mi-series helicopters still operated by NATO countries. However, the cooperation effectively pumped cash into Russia’s defense sector and kept sanctioned entities tied to European supply chains—even as Moscow was preparing for war.
Erlier, it was reported that Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski condemned President Karol Nawrocki’s decision to veto a law that would have extended assistance to Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s war, calling it a dangerous step that plays into Moscow’s hands.
The veto effectively cuts support for critical services like Starlink and comes alongside plans to limit refugees’ future access to child benefits and healthcare.
