Russia Calls U.S.’ Export of Afghan Mi-17 Helicopters to Ukraine ‘Illegal’

Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) has called U.S.’ export of Russian-made Mi-17V-5 helicopters - originally destined for Afghanistan - to Ukraine as “illegal.”

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby recently announced another package of military assistance to Ukraine, under which Kyiv will receive 11 Mi-17 helicopters.

On April 27, the FSMTC protested against “any illegal transfer to Ukraine or other countries of weapons and military equipment of Russian (Soviet) production, including helicopters supplied by JSC Rosoboronexport under a major contract with the Pentagon concluded in 2011.”

Russia says this export violates their end-use restrictions. “This contract and the relevant end user certificates stipulate that this helicopter equipment is intended for transfer by the American side to the armed forces of Afghanistan and is not subject to re-export or transfer to any third country, with the exception of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, without the consent of Russian Federation.”

The voluntaristic decision of the U.S. to supply the aforementioned "Afghan" helicopters to Ukraine grossly violates the foundations of international law and the provisions of Russian-American contract documents, the Russian federal executive body said.