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This Is How Russia’s Secret “Air Shadow Fleet” Is Fueling Its African Military Campaign
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Russia is relying on a network of military and privately operated aircraft—similar in structure to its maritime “shadow fleet”—to support its military operations across Africa’s Sahel, Euractiv reported on August 22, citing research by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS).
The C4ADS analysis identified at least 75 flights from Russia to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger between January 2025 and July 2026, suggesting a coordinated logistics system rather than a series of individual transport missions.
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Russia’s 224th Flight Unit, which is controlled by the Defense Ministry and sanctioned by the United States, was identified as the network’s most active carrier. Other operators included Sapsan Airlines, Liz Aviation, and Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry.
According to the report, Sapsan Airlines, Liz Aviation, and the Emergency Situations Ministry have not been placed under sanctions by the European Union, the United States, or the United Kingdom.
Researchers compared the network to Russia’s maritime “shadow fleet,” which Moscow uses to move and export oil while seeking to circumvent Western sanctions.
The routes used by the aircraft differed between state and private operators. Russian government aircraft frequently transited through bases in Syria and Libya under Moscow’s influence, while private carriers typically traveled through commercial hubs in Türkiye, Algeria, and the United Arab Emirates.
Libya is becoming an increasingly significant link in the network as Moscow continues to expand its military infrastructure there, providing Russia with additional capacity to support its activities across Africa.
Separately, the Washington-based Africa Defense Forum, citing information from the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, reported that Moscow plans to fund infrastructure projects and station personnel at six Libyan air bases.
Located across central, eastern, and southern Libya, the facilities are reportedly being developed or modernized to support Russian aircraft, air defense systems, drones, and personnel.
Russia has positioned one of its most sophisticated warships, equipped to carry nuclear-capable Zircon hypersonic missiles, near a German island in the Baltic Sea as Moscow intensifies its threats against British and European shipping.
The Admiral Kasatonov, a modern Russian frigate designed for long-range strike missions and anti-submarine operations, was observed last week near Fehmarn, a German island and popular tourist destination in the Baltic Sea.
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