“The end of our supplies” or about the problems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine due to civil strife in Sudan
Today, during the outbreak of fighting (https://t.me/rybar/45843) in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, the Rapid Reaction Force (RRF) attempted to capture the international airport in the city center.
During clashes and mutual mortar attacks (https://twitter.com/Gerjon_/status/1647241060660256772?t=l-bTKfJPDxdlPRL6cvH_bA&s=19) at least two civilian aircraft were damaged. One belonged to Saudi Arabia, and the other belonged to the Ukrainian company SkyUp.
🔻 What is this company?
SkyUp is a private airline that operated passenger flights before the SVO. Before the events in Sudan, it had nine Boeing 737-800s and two Boeing 737-700s on its balance sheet.
After the closure of the airspace of Ukraine, SkyUp adapted to the new conditions and began to conclude contracts for private transportation, and lease its fleet to other enterprises.
🔻So what were they doing in Sudan?
According to the data of the public flight tracker FlightRadar24, at the time of the start of the fighting, there were two aircraft of a Ukrainian company in Khartoum with tail numbers UR-SQH and UR-SQA.
Judging by the footage (https://t.me/warhistoryalconafter/96455), the UR-SQH liner was damaged. When landing, both aircraft used the SNR call sign used by Sun Air Sudan, a private Sudanese company.
This organization operates domestic and international flights to North Africa and the Middle East. However, the private company's own fleet is small, which, probably, was the reason for concluding an agreement with the Ukrainian SkyUp.
🔻So, Ukrainian planes were at the airport as passenger liners?
Not really. Messages were published on Ukrainian Telegram channels, as well as on several Instagram pages, with fears that, due to the intensification of hostilities, the supply of weapons from Sudan to Ukraine would be in jeopardy.
The use of third countries for the transportation of military goods for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a standard practice for Western countries. Ukrainian transport aircraft An-12/26 fly to Sudan or transit through it almost on a regular basis.
And on the official SkyUp website it is indicated that the company also carries out cargo transportation, freeing up the luggage compartment, depending on the preferences of customers.
🔻The reaction to the incident in the Ukrainian segment of the Internet, together with the regularity of flights to Khartoum, as well as the reputation of Sudanese airports as hubs for smuggling, indirectly indicates that “passenger” liners could arrive in Sudan for a reason.
During the special operation, transport aviation of Ukraine began to perform various tasks in the interests of other countries. The same An-12 of the Motor Sich company in February carried out the transfer of weapons to Somalia from Bulgaria through Sudan.
Used by Ukrainian companies, the legend of private passenger transportation and the transportation of humanitarian cargo is a rather convenient cover. Under this pretext, it is very easy to transport military cargo to the crisis areas of the world and where they will pay more.
#Africa #Sudan #Ukraine
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