Ka-52 Alligators flew to Kyiv’s Hostomel four years ago. The companies that build and fix them still aren’t sanctioned

Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) exposed 34 enterprises in Russia's helicopter industry that develop, manufacture, repair, and service military helicopters — including the Ka-52 Alligator and Mi-8 used in the war — and reported that 14 of them face no restrictions from Ukraine's allied countries. 

14 enterprises, zero Western sanctions

"Fourteen of the companies disclosed today have not been subject to restrictions by any of the sanctions coalition countries during the thirteen years of the Russian-Ukrainian war and four years of full-scale invasion," HUR said.

Among the unsanctioned firms HUR highlighted:

• JSC VR-Service — performs overhauls and modernization of Mi, Ka, and Ansat helicopters
• VR Foundry Production — manufactures magnesium and aluminum castings for the holding's enterprises
• Ulan-Ude Blade Plant — produces and repairs rotor blades for all Mi-8 variants

A review of the published data shows that of the 14 mentioned enterprises, five — VR-Service, VR Foundry Production, Helivert, the Far Eastern Aviation Service Center, and Barguzin aero company — carry sanctions from Ukraine only.

The holding behind Russia's helicopter fleet

All 34 enterprises belong to the Russian Helicopters holding under Rostec, a state corporation that manages hundreds of firms producing more than half of Russia's weapons and military equipment. The holding brings together design bureaus, helicopter factories, repair plants, component manufacturers, and service companies.

Russian Helicopters produces the Ka-52 Alligator reconnaissance-strike helicopter, the multi-role Mi-8/17, the Mi-26 heavy-lift transport, the Mi-28N attack helicopter, and naval Ka-27 and Ka-31 models. 

HUR argued that sanctions must extend to Russia's civilian helicopter industry because of the high interchangeability between "civilian" and military versions of helicopters — particularly the Mi-8. Leaving Russia's civilian segment unsanctioned creates loopholes for parts, maintenance, and expertise to flow into military production.

"Comprehensive sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine today are the only chance for democratic states to prevent the spread of war on the European continent and in other parts of the world," HUR said.

• In June 2025, hacker groups InformNapalm and Militant Intelligence leaked internal documents from JSC Russian Helicopters, exposing international contracts and supply routes involving India, Egypt, Algeria, and other countries. 
• A separate investigation revealed that a Hungarian company offered a sanctions workaround by routing helicopter repairs through a plant in Kazakhstan with spare parts shipped from Moscow.
• The intelligence directorate has previously exposed sanctions gaps across Rostec's structure. Earlier War&Sanctions publications covered 243 enterprises from three other Rostec holdings — High-Precision Systems, United Aircraft Corporation, and United Engine Corporation — and 145 companies under the Technodinamika holding, where 86 out of 145 also remained outside coalition sanctions.