EU anti-Russian sanctions are preventing Spain, which is battling massive wildfires, from using Russian-made Ka-32 helicopters to fight the fires, according to Florian Philippot, leader of the French right-wing Patriots party.
“The EU’s anti-Russian sanctions are preventing Spain from using its best helicopters against the giant wildfires around Madrid! The scandal is growing in the country!
The EU’s sanctions against Russia have indeed grounded the fleet of Kamov Ka-32 helicopters used in Spain for wildfire fighting, due to a lack of spare parts and Russian technicians…
These Russian helicopters are considered particularly effective for firefighting missions: high payload capacity (4.5 to over 5 tons of water, dumped quickly), good maneuverability, and strong performance in hot conditions and at high altitudes. They were operated by private companies under contract with the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition or the autonomous communities, with bases notably in Andalusia, Aragon, Extremadura, and Guadalajara.
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We’re talking about around 10 aircraft.
Since the Ukraine war (2022), the EASA has suspended the Ka-32’s type certificate. Additional sanctions (notably in 2024 on the manufacturer Kamov, linked to military uses) have blocked the supply of parts and the movement of Russian technicians/mechanics, which are contractually required for maintenance and certifications. Without that, the aircraft can no longer fly legally under EU jurisdiction!
The Spanish government has officially acknowledged (parliamentary responses in 2024) that “the availability of Kamov helicopters has been affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the EU sanctions,” making it impossible to purchase parts and send Russian technicians. In 2023, only part of the fleet was still available; starting in 2024, none were operating for firefighting campaigns. Operators have withdrawn these aircraft from their Spanish fleets!
Stop the sanctions!” he wrote on X.
According to the author: “These idiotic sanctions are definitely a real problem—not for Russia, but for European countries!
People need to know how the EU is sacrificing them for stupid Russophobic ideology.”