The UK government has launched an investigation into whether a £38 million purchase of Russian aircraft violated Britain’s sanctions regime, after The Observer alerted the government to the issue.
Figures from the Department for Business and Trade reveal that the UK imported £80 million worth of goods from Russia in the year to June 2025 – a 21.2% increase compared with the previous year. Nearly half of this total, around £36.3 million, came from spending on Russian aircraft.
Officials have yet to confirm who made the purchase or whether it complied with UK sanctions, which prohibit the import of aviation goods, technology, and any products that generate significant revenue for Russia.
A government spokesperson said: “Failing to comply with sanctions is an offence punishable through large financial penalties or even criminal prosecution, and we take reports of UK companies not complying with them very seriously. We encourage anyone who believes a company may have breached trade sanctions to report this to the Government.”
The discovery raises serious concerns, as it is believed to be the first time aircraft have been imported from Russia since sanctions were introduced following the invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this year, reports suggested British firms had exported aircraft parts to India that eventually made their way to Russia.
Last month, Defence Secretary John Healey warned that Vladimir Putin viewed Britain as his “No 1 enemy”.
Calum Miller, the Liberal Democrats’ foreign affairs spokesperson, criticised the revelation, saying there were “serious security concerns” surrounding the planes’ presence in the UK. He added: “Under this government’s watch, Britain has imported more Russian goods and paid tens of millions to buy Moscow’s planes. The British public will be appalled the UK is continuing to fill Putin’s war chest.”
The government has yet to disclose whether it will take enforcement action once the investigation is complete.
