Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, several countries, including Western nations, South Korea, and Japan, imposed sanctions on Russia's aviation sector. These restrictions have left Russia unable to purchase new aircraft from major manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus. Additionally, the country cannot acquire Brazil's Embraer or China's COMAC C919 aircraft due to their reliance on Western parts.
The sanctions prevent Russia from obtaining replacement parts or new aircraft from Boeing and Airbus. As a result, a significant portion of Russia's passenger fleet is grounded. Russian-made jets like the Sukhoi Superjet also face challenges because they contain a high percentage of imported components. Reports indicate that less than half of these jets still have valid airworthiness certificates in Russia.
Russia aims to replace Western components and revive domestic production but has yet to deliver any passenger jets since the sanctions began nearly three years ago. The substitution of engines on aircraft such as the MC-21 has resulted in heavier and less efficient planes.