Will Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations Buy Sanctioned Russian Helicopters?

The Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan does not intend to purchase products from the aircraft plant in Russian Ulan-Ude in the foreseeable future. But the Ministry of Emergency Situations may do so, Orda.kz reports.

Last week, we reported that the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Russia, Dauren Abayev, visited Buryatia for the first time.

The head of the Russian region, Alexey Tsydenov, commented on the meeting with Abayev and mentioned that Kazakhstan is interested in the supply of aircraft and helicopters manufactured by the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant.

The plant in Ulan-Ude is under Western sanctions. The enterprise produces, among other things, military equipment that the Russian army has used during the invasion of Ukraine. And this potentially threatens secondary sanctions for those who purchase this equipment.

However, the Ministry of Defense officially said there are no plans to purchase Russian helicopters for Kazakhstan's army.

The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan has not purchased products from Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant OJSC since February 2022. The issue of developing cooperation with this enterprise is not being considered,  the Ministry of Defense responded to Orda.kz's request.

The Ministry of Trade and Integration also stated that they know nothing about plans to cooperate with the Russian plant that has been sanctioned.

The Ministry has no information about deliveries or plans for cooperation with the said company. Interaction with companies and individuals on the sanctions list is a high-risk activity, the Ministry said.

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Emergency Situations could still make the purchase.

Back in September of last year, the Minister of Emergency Situations, Chingis Arinov, said that his agency wanted to purchase new aircraft in Russia for the urgent needs of rescue services.

At that time, the talk was about seven helicopters: three Mi-8 AMTs and four Ka-32s.

The Minister did not specify the amounts but said that they planned to purchase the equipment on lease with the involvement of international companies (perhaps this scheme will reduce the risks of sanctions).

Incidentally, the plant in Ulan-Ude produces precisely the Mi-8 AMT helicopters. 

We cannot yet confirm that the Buryat enterprise will supply its equipment to Kazakhstan. The editorial staff will submit a request to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny