On 12 Mar it took off from Baranavichi and flew to Mineral’nye Vody. On 13 Mar it took off and flew to Busfar Airbase, Ain el Turk DZA. Although Volga-Dnepr is a charter airline, it has in the past worked for the Russian MoD and may now be more closely subordinated.
On 11 Mar Volga-Dnepr Airlines An-124 CONDOR RA-82047 flew from Irkutsk to Baranavichi BLR. The Irkutsk Aviation Plant produces Su-30SM2 FLANKER-H and they are based at Baranavichi and I thought that the flight might be connected with a delivery; however, I was informed that it ‘picked up’ cargo.
On 10 Mar SFS Il-62M CLASSIC RA-86561 landed at Ivato International Airport, Antananarivo MDG. On 13 Mar it took off as RFF7283 and flew to Brazzaville COD landing at Maya-Maya International Airport. There was a similar pattern of flights flown by SFS Il-62M CLASSIC RA-86572 in Dec 2025.
Approximately three plus hours after landing, RA-76362 SUM9106 took off from Lankaran likely en route back to Moscow.
however, this flight (according to media) delivered humanitarian aid to IRN. report.az/en/amp/regio...
On 12 Mar Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) Il-76TD CANDID RA-76362 SUM9106 took off likely from Moscow (ZIA) and flew to Lankaran International Airport AZE This aircraft flew to Lankaran on 03 Mar to evacuate Russian citizens from IRN;
This aircraft was active on 21 & 29 Oct 2025 making test flights and possible air-to-air refueling near Ulyanovsk.
An aircraft I have not seen for awhile but always keep open in a tab: Il-78MD-90A MIDAS tanker RF-78741, the first (and only) Il-78MD-90A is making a test flight at Ulyanovsk. This was the first aircraft in the second series of production of the Il-76MD-90A.
They could have used Sukhoj factory pilots and I think that an An-124 would burn more fuel than a pair of FLANKER. It is a mystery. We'll see how long it takes the CONDOR to leave and where it goes next. I will also look at BLR military publications to see if any more deliveries have been reported.
FLANKER-H have been delivered to Baranavichi this year although video showed them flying in. This could have been a delivery flight but I wonder why the FLANKER were delivered by CONDOR instead of flying in? militarnyi.com/en/news/bela...
The Irkutsk Aviation Plant produces (among other aircraft) Su-30SM2 FLANKER-H and they are based at Baranavichi.
I do not usually watch Volga-Dnepr aircraft too often but this flight is interesting. On 11 Mar Volga-Dnepr Airlines An-124 CONDOR RA-82047 flew from Irkutsk to Abakan, taking off after approximately four hours and continuing on to Baranavichi BLR.
If something did fly, it may have been a drone and/or spoofing was involved.
An aircraft I keep an eye on: Il-76MD-90A(E) CANDID (with air-to-air refueling capability) RA-78650 recently flew Moscow – Perm – Kaluga – Moscow on three successive days. I never figured out what it was doing. On 10 Mar it allegedly took off and few to Perm again although tracking did not show it.
After approximately an hour on the ground, RA-61729 took off from Plesetsk and is likely en route back to Moscow. Obviously a drop off and/or pick up.
ICBM launches are publicized (unless they fail) and I have not seen anything so far.
On 11 Mar VKS An-148 RA-61729 flew from Moscow (CKL) to Plesetsk. It also flew to Plesetsk on 04 Mar and returned to Moscow later. Flights to Plesetsk likely support launches at the Cosmodrome, but I am not seeing a launch scheduled. This could mean a military launch to include an ICBM.
Sometimes missile firings do not go as planned and I remember this event vividly: www.thebarentsobserver.com/life-and-pub...
Another pastime of mine is baiting email scammers. I created personalities/email addresses and put them on the muguguestbook.com. Scammers get email addresses from guestbooks and use them in scams. I get a lot of hilarious emails, but one personality ‘Kitty Litter’ received this and it is hilarious!
There have been several Russian flights to MDG lately to include an An-124 CONDOR, two Ministry of Emergency Situations Il-76TD CANDID and a SFS Il-96 CAMBER that ferried the President of the Republic of Madagascar, Michael Randrianirina to/from Moscow for meetings with Putin.
SFS Il-62M CLASSIC RA-86561 RFF7283 landed at Ivato International Airport, Antananarivo MDG.
On 09 Mar 223rd SFS Il-62M CLASSIC RA-86561 RFF7283 took off from Lomé TGO and is southbound.
On the ground at K-Grad approximately four hours, RA-64527 took off from K-Grad Khrabrovo and is en route back with a flightplan for Moscow (VKO).
If this is the case, the A319 carries 124 to 156 passengers and could give an idea on how many people were evacuated.
On 06 Mar SFS A319 RA-73025 flew from Moscow (ZIA) to Sochi departing early on 09 Mar and returned to Moscow. This aircraft possibly picked up evacuees from LBN in Sochi and returned them to Moscow so they would have a nicer ride than in the back of an Il-76 (sling seats).
Speaking of Sochi: On 07 Mar I posted on the flight by the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) Il-76TD CANDID RA-76362 that flew from Moscow (ZIA) to Beirut LBN. It departed later and flew to Sochi. It took off and returned to Moscow. I stated this was likely an evacuation flight.
On 09 Mar Tu-214 VIP RA-64521 RSD630 flew from Moscow (VKO) to Sochi. Sochi is a busy place today!
RA-64527 landed at K-Grad and is scheduled to take off and return to Moscow at 1310Z.
On 09 Mar Il-96PU CAMBER Airborne Command Post RA-96025 RSD720 (one of Putin’s aircraft) flew from Moscow (VKO) to Sochi. It departed as RSD116 after approximately three hours and returned to Moscow. It is unknown if Putin was on board.
