Canada escalates legal bid to seize Russian An-124 aircraft stranded in Toronto

The Canadian government has taken further legal steps to gain full possession of a Russian Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft that has been stranded at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) since February 2022.  

The aircraft, operated by Volga-Dnepr Airlines, was stranded in Canada just days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada told local news outlet INsauga that on March 18, 2025, the Attorney General of Canada initiated forfeiture proceedings with the Superior Court of Ontario.  

“A person or entity with an interest or right in the seized property has the opportunity to present evidence and participate in administrative and judicial proceedings,” the unnamed official said in a statement. 

The aircraft in question, registered as RA-82078, is owned by Volga-Dnepr Airlines, a Russian cargo operator that is a subsidiary of the Volga-Dnepr Group. The Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan, which boasts a lifting capacity of 150 tons, is one of the largest cargo aircraft in the world. Its ability to carry oversized and heavy cargo makes it a highly valuable strategic asset for both commercial and military logistics.

The Russian-registered Antonov An-124 aircraft has been parked for over three years at Toronto Pearson International Airport (Greg finnegan / Shutterstock.com)At the time of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the aircraft was delivering a shipment of COVID-19 test kits from China to Canada. Three days later, while the aircraft was still unloading its cargo in Toronto, Canada closed its airspace to Russian carriers, effectively leaving the An-124 stranded. 

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In June 2023, Canada formally ordered the seizure of the aircraft as part of its sanctions in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The Canadian government later announced its intention to transfer the aircraft to Ukraine, aiming to use it to support post-war reconstruction and compensate victims of human rights abuses. 

Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly defended the seizure, stating in a previous press release that the move sends a strong signal to Moscow. 

“There will be nowhere left to hide for those who support and profit from the Kremlin’s war of aggression,” Joly said. “Canada has been there to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom since day one and we will continue to be there through their victory to aid in their reconstruction efforts.” 

In response, Volga-Dnepr Airlines initiated legal action in the Federal Court of Canada in December 2023, challenging the legality of the sanctions and the seizure. The airline argued that it had no involvement in Russia’s military activities or connections to groups such as the Wagner Group. It also claimed that the aircraft had been neglected while at Toronto Pearson Airport, receiving no maintenance and suffering exposure to the elements. 

In February 2025, the Canadian government expanded its seizure order to include additional parties believed to be directly or indirectly involved in the ownership or control of the Antonov An-124 grounded at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The updated order named Aleksey Ivanovich Isaykin, Volga-Dnepr Airlines (Ireland) Limited, Volga-Dnepr Logistics B.V., and Sberbank, along with Volga-Dnepr Group and Volga-Dnepr Airlines. 

The outcome of the legal proceedings could set a significant precedent for the seizure of foreign state-linked property under sanctions regimes. The aircraft remains at Toronto Pearson Airport while the court cases continue. The post Canada escalates legal bid to seize Russian An-124 aircraft stranded in Toronto appeared first on AeroTime.

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