The Serbian company Sprocure, which was included on May 14 in the 17th package of European Union (EU) sanctions against Russia, has transported 170 shipments to Russia within a year and a half.
Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) research on customs data shows that the value of these shipments from mid-2022 to the end of 2023 exceeded $9.7 million.
According to the Import Genius database, parts for aircraft that are under a special sanctions regime have been completed in Russia since the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, in February 2022.
The new sanctions package against Russia, which is expected to be approved on May 20, also includes companies from third countries that indirectly help Russia's military and technological progress, while avoiding sanctions.
Sprocure was founded in August 2022, six months after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with activities declared as "intermediation in the sale of various products."
Initially, the owner and director was Serbian citizen Zinete Mehmeti, but in early 2024, when the US State Department began sanctioning companies from Serbia, the ownership changed.
The new owner and director became the Turkish citizen, Erdal Iihan.
On the official website, Sprocure presents itself as an international distributor of parts for the aviation industry, with the aim of also offering repair management and logistics.
According to the latest financial report, the company generated revenue of $1.4 million in 2024, compared to $2.5 million in 2023.
REL has analyzed all exports that Sprocure has made to Russia in the first 18 months of operation.
Seattle and Miami, departure points for several shipments to Russia
Customs data show that from September 2022 to the end of 2023, goods worth about $2 million were exported from the United States to Russia, mainly via Turkey. The departure points were often the American cities of Seattle and Miami.
Seattle is also home to the headquarters of aviation giant Boeing. Customs records show that parts worth $110,000 were marked with the company's name.
In a response to REL on May 15, 2024, Boeing said it complies with all regulations and does not export goods to Russia.
"In March 2022, we will cease all major operations in Russia, including parts distribution, maintenance, and technical support for customers," the response states.
Another major aircraft equipment manufacturer whose products were exported to Russia through Sprocure is the American company Honeywell, headquartered in Arizona. This company supplies about 90 percent of the world's aircraft and 80 percent of the world's satellites.
The value of this company's products that ended up in Russia is over 400 thousand dollars.
Honeywell confirmed to REL that it has ceased operations in Russia and Belarus since 2022, in full compliance with sanctions and export laws.
"Since then, we have not distributed any equipment, parts or products to Russia, and we are actively working to prevent any possibility of our products being diverted to Russia through third parties," the response said.
REL has also requested information from the US Customs and Border Protection, but the request for more detailed data was denied.
For goods worth over $7 million, there is no data on brands, while for goods worth $5 million, the origin is unknown. For $2 million, the American origin is assigned, while for $1.5 million, the declared origin is Serbia.
Sprocure has not responded to REL's questions after being included in the EU blacklist.
Who are the main beneficiaries of shipments through Sprocure in Russia?
On the Russian side, the largest beneficiary of shipments made through the company Sprocure was the company S7 Engineering, which received goods worth $2 million.
S7 Engineering is a subsidiary of Siberia Airlines.
This company has also signed contracts with the Russian state institution, the Russian Special Aviation Squadron, which operates within the Office for the Affairs of the President of the Russian Federation.
Nearly $5 million worth of goods were shipped to Jetica LLC, which, according to data in the Russian Spark companies database, is registered as a company operating in the field of air transport.
Its headquarters are located in Moscow and the owner is Izmailova Darya Mikhailovna.
REL had reported on Sprocure in 2023 as well.
Radio Free Europe had previously reported on Sprocure's activities in November 2023, in an investigation into Serbian companies' multi-million dollar profits through evasion of sanctions against Russia.
It was revealed that Western-made aircraft equipment and parts were exported to Russia through Sprocure from Belgrade.
The shipments included aircraft engine oils, tires, audible and visual signaling devices, batteries and accumulators.
At that time, owner Zinete Mehmeti did not answer REL's questions.
Sprocure is the fourth company from Serbia to be blacklisted by the EU for sanctions against Russia, after Conex, Kominvex and Soha Info./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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