EU imposes sanctions against Russia's UTair Airlines

MOSCOW. Dec 16 (Interfax) - The European Union has included PJSC UTair Airlines in its updated list of Russian companies subject to sanctions.

The EU has substantiated including UTair in the list given that the airline is a contractor of the Russian Defense Ministry and has provided logistical support to the Russian Armed Forces, including transporting military personnel to Ukraine.

The European regulators have also said that UTair is associated with Vladimir Bogdanov, who is on the list, and it has repeatedly received substantial financial support from the Russian government.

UTair is part of the group of the same name that also unites helicopter carriers, aircraft repair and maintenance companies, and the Surgut and Ust-Kut airports, respectively. JSC AK-Invest, founded by Pension Choice NPF that was previously associated with Surgutneftegas NPF, controls the UTair group.