Russian Military Intelligence Chief Makes Unusual Israel Stop on Sanctioned Jet Ahead of Abu Dhabi Talks
A Russian delegation led by Admiral Igor Kostyukov, head of Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, arrived in Israel aboard a military transport aircraft and met senior Israeli defence officials before travelling to Abu Dhabi for trilateral talks, The Jerusalem Post reported on November 9, citing two sources familiar with the visit. Neither the agenda nor the purpose of the meetings was disclosed.
The delegation flew on a Tupolev Tu-154M registered RA-85042, operated by the Russian Defence Ministry's 223rd Flight Detachment. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft departing Chkalovsky Air Base near Moscow, crossing the Black Sea and Turkish airspace before landing at Ben-Gurion Airport. On May 19, 2023, the U.S. Treasury designated 37 aircraft of the 223rd Detachment, including RA-85042, as blocked property under Executive Order 14024, citing the unit's role transporting personnel and equipment for the Wagner mercenary group.
The Israel Defense Forces and the Russian Embassy in Israel declined to comment to The Jerusalem Post on who was aboard or why. Other Israeli reporting said the stop was coordinated with Washington. No side has disclosed what was discussed, and GSM cannot independently verify the substance of the meetings.
The delegation left Israel on November 9 for Abu Dhabi, where Kostyukov leads Russia's team at the U.S.-mediated Russia-U.S.-Ukraine trilateral talks on November 10-11. The United States is represented by envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and Ukraine's delegation is led by Rustem Umerov; the agenda includes post-war security arrangements, de-escalation and humanitarian steps. (Source: The Jerusalem Post)
Source: The Jerusalem Post
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：注册号 RA-85042 的俄罗斯空军图-154M 运输机（资料图，2018年摄于荷兰 Schiphol 机场），即此次搭载俄方代表团、被美国列入制裁名单的同一架飞机。照片：Nicky Boog 摄，CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Russian Air Force Tu-154M, registration RA-85042 (file photo, Schiphol Airport, 2018) — the same U.S.-sanctioned aircraft that carried the Russian delegation. Photo by Nicky Boog, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
