Ukraine Nationalizes Belarusian, Russian Engines sent for Repairs before Invasion

Ukraine has seized an AI-25TL aircraft engine and an SV-25TL air starter belonging to Belarusian defense ministry, that were sent to the country for repairs before Russia’s invasion.

Seized equipment include six D-18Т aircraft engines belonging to Russian company Volga-Dnepr.

Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) upheld the lawsuit of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine against the Belarusian defense ministry and applied the sanction. “The HACC seized the components of the electric aircraft launch system for the state’s benefit,” it said in a statement.

The said engines were presumably under repair in Ukraine before Russia’s invasion. They are designed to be installed on passenger and transport aircraft. The SV-25TL starter is used to start them.

D-18Т high-bypass turbofan, manufactured by Motor Sich, has been in serial production since 1984. It is used on An-124 Ruslan and An-225 Mriya transport aircraft.

On the other side, the AI-25TL is designed for training aircraft. The engine is equipped with a special lubrication system that ensures normal operation at zero and negative Gs.