European Commission confirms sanctions block Spain’s use of Ka-32 firefighting helicopters

Lead

The European Commission has confirmed that European Union sanctions prohibit the supply of spare parts for the Russian-made Ka-32 helicopters owned by Spain, leaving the country unable to use the aircraft to fight wildfires that are affecting much of Europe this summer. The confirmation came from Commission spokeswoman Siobhan McGarry, who addressed the issue during a press briefing in Brussels.

Coverage comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported McGarry's remarks on July 30, quoting her as explaining that the relevant sanctions date from October 2022, when the EU approved an import ban on powered aircraft, including some helicopters. She noted that the sanctions were adopted unanimously by the EU Council and that member states are responsible for enforcing them, suggesting that the Spanish authorities could provide clarification on the specific case.

The Commission spokeswoman acknowledged that the institution has little information on the matter and did not directly address the question of whether Spain could legally opt out of the restrictions. TASS noted that although enforcement is a national responsibility, EU member states cannot legally bypass measures adopted by the Council.

Separately, on July 29, TASS reported a statement from Russia's state technology corporation Rostec, which asserted that Europe has no alternatives to the Ka-32 helicopters and that the EU is harming itself by banning their servicing and spare parts supplies.

Key claims

• The European Commission confirmed that EU sanctions prohibit the supply of spare parts for Russian-made Ka-32 helicopters, according to a TASS report quoting Commission spokeswoman Siobhan McGarry.
• Spain's fleet of Ka-32 firefighting helicopters has been grounded due to the ban, as reported by TASS, citing a statement from Rostec.
• The EU sanctions in question were adopted in October 2022, when the bloc approved an import ban on powered aircraft, as stated by McGarry.
• As of July 29, 435,000 hectares of forest had been destroyed by fires across Europe, according to a specialized European center cited by TASS. The largest fires were reported in Spain and France.
• Russia's Be-200 aircraft previously helped fight wildfires in Europe, including a two-month operation in Greece in 2021, according to Rostec's statement to TASS.
• Spain purchased about 15 Ka-32 helicopters between 2004 and 2014, which are considered among the most effective firefighting aircraft, TASS reported, citing Spain's La Razon newspaper. The same source indicated that EU sanctions led to the suspension of operations for ten Ka-32 helicopters remaining in service in 2022, preventing Russian specialists from traveling to Spain for maintenance.

Perspectives

European Commission

The Commission confirmed the sanctions' applicability, pointing to the October 2022 import ban on powered aircraft. Spokeswoman Siobhan McGarry emphasized that sanctions were adopted unanimously by the EU Council and that member states are responsible for enforcement, directing questions about the Spanish case to national authorities.

Rostec (Russia's state technology corporation)

Rostec argued that Europe has no alternative to the Ka-32 helicopters and that the EU is harming itself through the ban. The corporation stated that 'European bureaucrats' are indifferent to the problems facing their own citizens and have abandoned the use of Russia's Be-200 aircraft, which previously helped fight wildfires in Europe. Rostec added that Europe has no other highly maneuverable aircraft capable of carrying large volumes of water and delivering it accurately onto fires.