Russian-crewed plane was downed in North Darfur, an event that has sparked significant intrigue regarding the intricate and clandestine networks supporting the more than 18-month conflict between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The war, which erupted due to the rivalry between these factions, has displaced millions, caused widespread hunger, and drawn in foreign powers. This incident, involving a Russian-operated plane, offers a glimpse into the murky supply chains fueling the brutal war.
The Incident: A Russian Crew on Sudanese Soil
The RSF, an opposing force to Sudan’s army, claims to have shot down the transport plane in al-Malha, north of al-Fashir, during the early hours of Monday. Al-Fashir, a city under siege by the RSF, has been a focal point in the broader Sudanese conflict. According to RSF sources, the downed aircraft was an Ilyushin transport plane used by the Sudanese military to deliver weapons, ammunition, and provisions to the army. The army and allied former rebel groups stationed in al-Fashir have been attempting to fend off RSF assaults for months.
Footage provided by the RSF shows the burning wreckage of the plane and identity documents of two Russians they claim were on board, along with three Sudanese military personnel. These details offer rare insights into foreign involvement, especially Russian, in the Sudanese conflict.
Supply Chains: Russian Involvement and Shifting Allegiances
The RSF’s claims point to the Russian crew and the use of the plane for resupplying the army, signaling the shifting nature of foreign support in the conflict. Flight tracking data and documents found in the wreckage suggest that the aircraft had been involved in supply missions for both sides during the conflict. A Reuters analysis of these documents, along with social media data, confirmed that one of the Russian crew members had a past tied to arms trafficking, further deepening the complexities of external involvement.
Initially, the plane appears to have been supplying the RSF, the paramilitary group, but switched allegiances and began delivering supplies to the Sudanese army. The aircraft, identified as a Russian-made Ilyushin IL76 cargo plane, matched remnants of the engine and stabilizer components found at the crash site. The London-based Centre for Information Resilience, a non-profit group, confirmed these findings through an analysis of video footage, satellite images, and terrain details, identifying the crash location as being about 80 miles north of al-Fashir.
Tracing the Russian Crew Members
Two Russians were identified as being on board through a detailed review of the RSF’s footage showing their identity documents, further confirmed by public databases, facial recognition, and social media profiles. One of the suspected crew members was identified as Victor Granov, a 67-year-old South Africa-based businessman who had previously been associated with the notorious arms dealer, Victor Bout. Bout, a notorious figure in global arms trafficking, was released in a high-profile prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia in 2022. Granov had been mentioned in a 2005 report by Amnesty International, which identified him as operating airlines accused of violating arms embargoes in conflict zones such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Granov’s identity was confirmed through footage showing his work ID, a South African driver’s license, and an expired passport found at the crash site. His links to arms trafficking reveal the kind of operators involved in supplying both sides of the conflict with the necessary tools of war. His family has remained silent, with both his daughter and ex-wife declining to comment on the situation.
The second suspected crew member, Anton Selivanets, was identified through his Russian passport, which was also recovered from the wreckage. His social media profiles showed that he had previously been involved with Ilyushin planes, including those used by the World Food Programme (WFP), although the WFP denied any affiliation with him. Selivanets had posed with IL76 planes bearing WFP logos at airports in Ethiopia, raising further questions about his previous engagements in Africa.
Adding to this web of foreign involvement, the RSF also claimed to have found a video on a mobile phone recovered from the plane. Reuters identified one of the men in the video as Alexander Kabanov, a Russian national with a history of military service in elite airborne troops. Kabanov’s social media profiles show a man deeply involved in the continent’s geopolitical and military affairs, particularly in Uganda, Sudan, and South Sudan.
The Role of Foreign Powers in Sudan’s Conflict
The downing of the Russian-crewed plane has brought to light the intricate and shadowy networks of foreign actors involved in the Sudanese conflict. As both the RSF and the Sudanese army have jostled for power in a war triggered by frictions over a planned transition to civilian rule, foreign support has played a key role. Russia’s involvement, particularly through mercenaries and arms suppliers, reflects the geopolitical interests of external powers in Sudan’s natural resources and strategic location.
Flight data shows that the plane, identified by its registration number EX-76011, had previously flown routes toward Chad, reportedly supplying the RSF with the backing of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Sudan Conflict Observatory, a platform funded by the U.S. State Department, identified this plane as part of New Way Cargo’s fleet, an airline that had been providing logistical support to the RSF. However, by December 2023, the same plane was recorded flying to Port Sudan, a stronghold of the Sudanese army, suggesting a shift in allegiances. This shift highlights the fluid nature of alliances in the conflict, driven by external actors and supply networks that often operate in the shadows.
The United Arab Emirates has denied any involvement in providing military support to the RSF, but a United Nations panel of experts has deemed reports of UAE support credible. The involvement of Kyrgyzstan-based New Way Cargo and Astraway FZC, a UAE-based aviation company, further complicates the international picture. While both companies have denied any recent involvement with the plane, the safety instructions found with the wreckage, labeled “NeWay Cargo,” bear a logo strikingly similar to Dubai-based NeWay Logistics LLC, though its owner denied any connection to the downed flight.
The Broader Implications
This incident is emblematic of the broader conflict in Sudan, where foreign powers, mercenaries, and arms traffickers have found a role in fueling a devastating war. The downing of the Russian-crewed Ilyushin plane offers a glimpse into the dangerous and hidden supply chains keeping both the Sudanese army and the RSF equipped for battle. The involvement of figures like Granov, with past ties to arms trafficking, and the complex web of international companies implicated in this supply chain, raise critical questions about accountability and the role of foreign actors in Sudan’s suffering.
As Sudan’s conflict continues to displace millions and destabilize the region, the international community must grapple with the shadowy networks that sustain it, and whether enough is being done to curb the flow of arms and supplies that prolong the violence.
