E be sey one Russian cargo plane, wey dem dey call am Abakan Air Il-76, land for Upington last week, and e dey carry general cargo wey no be military own. According to South Africa Department of Transport, e dey carry civilian helicopters and aerobatic aircraft.
Some news people talk say maybe e dey carry weapons go Vastrap testing range wey dey near there, and dem link the airline to Russia Wagner Group (Africa Corps). Dem say United States Treasury blacklist the airline for June 2024 sake of say dem dey carry Russian military equipment.
Flight tracking show sey the plane land for Upington on 2 October after e fly from Dar es Salaam for Tanzania. E don dey the East African country since 18 September. Collen Msibi, wey be spokesperson for Department of Transport, tell IOL sey Abakan Air apply for permit on 9 September and dem give am on 23 September to carry general cargo, civilian helicopters and acrobatic aeroplanes.
Msibi talk sey South Africa government never blacklist the operator. And dem no get any information from any other government sey dem don blacklist am. After e land for Upington, the Il-76 go refuel for Lanseria before e comot the country.
Darren Olivier, wey be Director of African Defence Review, talk sey no evidence dey show sey the aircraft dey under contract with SA government or any other government. E say dem dey charter Il-76s regularly by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to move equipment go and from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but this Abakan Air aircraft no dey involved.
Olivier still talk sey no proof dey sey the cargo get anything military-related or nuclear inside, or sey e get anything to do with any government. E say e be like sensationalism to talk sey na so e be. E add sey just because the aircraft dey under US sanction no mean sey South Africa suppose deny am entry. E say most Russian cargo operators dey under sanction.