«Russian aviation – civilian and military alike – remains dependent on western aviation tyres due to their superior quality. Therefore, Michelin should take a more proactive approach in preventing the illicit re-export of its products to Russia through third countries», said Roman Steblivskyi, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the ESCU, in a comment to The Guardian.
Despite EU sanctions, Russia continues to receive Michelin aviation tyres via third countries. According to ESCU research, 2,687 Michelin aviation tyres worth over $7 million were imported into Russia between 2024 and 2025.
The shipments were routed through intermediaries based in Turkey, Spain, Saudi Arabia, India, and the UK. Notably, the largest importer in 2024 was a company supplying Russia’s military-industrial complex, underlining the direct security implications of these deliveries.
How did Michelin respond? Read in the The Guardian.