Ul. Peschanaya, d. 20, Smolevichi, 222201, Belarus
Reg. ID
600436180, Tax ID No.
Official reason
Aviakompaniya Rada LLC (Rada) and UE RubiStar (RubiStar) are two private Belarusian cargo airline companies that have long operated in the international transportation of a variety of products, including general cargo, engineering equipment, live animals, and dangerous goods.
In addition to their activities in the Belarusian transportation sector, both Rada and RubiStar have provided support to Russian defense activities. More specifically, Rada provided support to internationally designated Russian Private Military Company Wagner (Wagner Group) (designated on June 20, 2017, November 15, 2022, and January 26, 2023) by moving Wagner Group personnel and supplies to and from Africa. Additionally, on multiple occasions in 2024, RubiStar provided mission support to Russia by transporting Russian military personnel to Africa; and relatedly, at the request of a Russian company, RubiStar conducted the shipment of military helicopters to Africa. Finally, Rada has also participated in the trafficking of exotic animals between Mexico and Venezuela.
Rada is led by its Commercial Director Dmitry Olegovich Ishchenko (Ishchenko), a Russian national, and its Belarusian Director Ivan Nikolaevich Nareiko, while RubiStar is represented by its Belarusian Director, Evgeniy Ivanovich Mikholap (Mikholap).
OFAC is designating Rada, RubiStar, Ishchenko, Nareiko, and Mikholap pursuant to E.O. 14038 for operating or having operated in the transportation sector of the Belarus economy.
OFAC is also designating Rada, RubiStar, Ishchenko, Nareiko, and Mikholap pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. On June 12, 2024, Treasury broadened the definition of Russia’s military-industrial base to include all persons blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. This means that foreign financial institutions risk being sanctioned for conducting or facilitating significant transactions, or providing any service, involving any person blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. Foreign financial institutions face sanctions risk for continuing to facilitate transactions involving Russia’s military-industrial base. Financial institutions should review OFAC’s updated sanctions advisory for practical guidance on how to identify sanctions risks and implement corresponding controls.
Executive Order 14024 of April 15, 2021 Blocking Property With Respect To Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation
In response to the Russian Federation’s continued use of its military-industrial base to support its aggression against Ukraine, the President has issued an Executive Order (E.O.) amending E.O. 14024 that provides the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) with new authorities to target foreign financial institutions for engaging in certain transactions. Foreign financial institutions that conduct or facilitate significant transactions or provide any service involving Russia’s military-industrial base run the risk of being sanctioned by OFAC.
The United States and partners have put in place a sanctions and export controls regime that has severely restricted Russia’s ability to import many of the items that directly support its brutal and unjustified war against Ukraine. As a result, Russia is increasingly using third countries to evade sanctions and continue its procurement of certain critical items. The United States and partners have published multiple advisories, including detailed red flags, to warn the private sector about Russian sanctions evasion in support of its war machine and to support compliance efforts. OFAC’s new targeting authorities, which are aimed at foreign financial institutions that provide services to, or engage in significant transactions relating to, Russia’s military-industrial base, come as a natural evolution of OFAC’s work to counter evasion and hold accountable those perpetuating Russia’s war against Ukraine, including financial facilitators.
OFAC is issuing this advisory to provide guidance to foreign financial institutions on the amendments to E.O. 14024, including practical guidance on how to identify sanctions risks and implement corresponding controls. For additional guidance on this E.O., please see FAQs 1146–1157.
