As you all know Ruslan International is a joint venture between Volga Dnepr, a Russian company, and Antonov, a Ukrainian organisation. Volga Dnepr today issued a press release and announcement to customers (having previously advised that this release would be made on Monday next). This release confirms that the Ruslan International joint venture will be closed with effect from the end of the year and that from 1 January Volga Dnepr will operate its An124 aircraft completely separately from Antonov. I am expecting Antonov to issue a statement in response later today. I anticipate that release will say that Antonov is similarly pleased to announce that it intends to continue offering its An124’s, An225 and An22 to the market. It will do this independently from Volga Dnepr, through an arrangement with a new company in the UK. This company will act as worldwide general agent for Antonov, in much the same way as Air Foyle did in the past. The bad news is that this means that Ruslan International will not be able to renew its membership of the Heavylift Group in 2017. However, I am hopeful that the Group will accept an application from Antonov’s new agent. This company is currently called Dreamlifts Ltd, although it will market only using the Antonov Airlines brand and the registered name is likely to change to something including the Antonov name during the next two or three months. I expect to be involved both in assisting Antonov, through the new company, and in making the application to join the Heavylift Group. The application may be a little tricky as the new company has no trading record and will struggle therefore to provide accounts or the kind of certifications and examples of projects undertaken which are usually required. Nevertheless I hope that the ExecCom and the Members will look favourably on such an application, given the historic association between the Group and the various companies who, as representatives of Antonov, have been members over the years. Best wishes to you all Paul Furlonger
March 16, 2026
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