Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) Il-76TD CANDID RA-76362 SUM9106 took off from Beirut and is en route back to Dalman.

Kogalym and surrounding area. The little white dots appear to be oil wells.

Ukrainian drones have reportedly attacked Lukoil sites in the Khanty-Mansiskij Autonomous Okrug (which accounts for 40% of Russia's oil production) and Lukoil has faced major operational disruptions in the region. The flight could have something to do with oil production.

On 21 Apr SFS SS100 RA-89040 RSD721 flew from Moscow (VKO) to Kogalym in the Khanty-Mansiskij Autonomous Okrug, returning to Moscow after a short stop on the ground. Kogalym is a critical hub for the Russian oil industry and serves as the home base for Lukoil's regional operations.

On 21 Apr Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) Il-76TD CANDID RA-76362 SUM9105 took off from Dalman and flew to Beirut LBN (even though tracking makes it appear that it went to JOR). It filed a flightplan to fly back to Dalman as SUM9106 with a takeoff time of 1000Z.

On 21 Apr SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82030 RFF8744 took off from Khmejmim Airbase SYR with an anti-SAM maneuver and is en route back to RUS. It arrived on 20 Apr and this was its second trip to Khmejmim in as many days.

On 20 Apr Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) Il-76TD CANDID RA-76362 SUM9105 took off from Moscow (ZIA) and flew to Dalman TUR (with some very erratic tracking). It is scheduled to take off at 0430Z and fly to Beirut LBN.

Iranian Mahan Air flights by A340 & B777 aircraft to/from Guangzhou and Shanghai CHN continue. Both locations are major hubs for drone production.

Avikon Tsitotrans Il-76TD CANDID makes semi-regular trips to Central/South America and has in the past flown to the following locations: Caracas VEN, Brasilia BRA, Santa Cruz and Bogota COL, Toluca MEX and Havana CUB.

On 20 Apr Avikon Tsitotrans Il-76TD CANDID RA-76842 took off from Jose Marti International Airport, Havana and flew to Toluca MEX. After approximately three hours on the ground it took off and flew back to Caracas.

On 20 Apr SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82037 RFF8744 & Il-76MD-90A CANDID RF-78666 RFF8740 departed Khmejmim Airbase SYR and flew back to RUS. Both aircraft arrived earlier today: RA-82037 from RUS and RF-78666 from and extended trip to Africa.

It is getting close to that time again! On 20 Apr VKS An-148 RA-61733 flew from Moscow (CKL) to Kubinka to direct/observe preparations for the Victory Day Parade on 09 May. Get out the popcorn, ice tea and your favorite grain alcohol!

Also on 20 Apr SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82030 RFF8743 flew from RUS to Khmejmim Airbase SYR. It left Khmejmim on 19 Apr and returned to RUS. Quick turnaround!

On 20 Apr SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82037 RFF8710 landed at Khmejmim Airbase SYR. It was last tracked on 14 Apr arriving at Khmejmim from RUS as RFF8704. I suspect it has been in Africa.

On 20 Il-96PU CAMBER Airborne Command Post RA-96024 RSD936 (Putin’s aircraft) flew the ‘Moscow Test Loop.’ Projected date was OOA 18 Apr. Next test loop OOA 04 May.

On 20 Apr Avikon Tsitotrans Il-76TD CANDID RA-76842 took off from Simon Bolivar International Airport, Caracas and flew to Jose Marti International Airport, Havana CUB.

On 19 Apr SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82030 RFF8744 took off from Khmejmim Airbase with an anti-SAM maneuver and returned to RUS.

I don't know. Maybe just a mistake on the registration on the Russian or FR24 side, but I think that RUS flew the route it did to keep as much of this flight low key and out of the purview of Azerbaijan.

What is really deceptive is that on 19 Apr when the aircraft left Erebuni it listed its takeoff location as being in Igdir TUR (red dot). I believe these flights flew the routes they did to try and hide them from AZE. Nice try – but no cigar!

MiG-29 FULCRUM at Erebuni in Apr 2025 with tires on the wing to confuse Ukrainian drones?

Erebuni Airport - Wikipedia

Erebuni is home of the Russian 3624th Air Base equipped with a squadron of MiG-29 FULCRUM and Mi-24 HIND. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erebuni...

The CANDID flew into ARM on 06, 15 & 17 Apr and out on 08, 16 & 19 Apr. One flight listed its destination as Yerevan Zvartnots International Airport; however, the aircraft did not go there, all flights landed at Erebuni Airbase, a few kilometers to the southeast of Zvartnots (yellow dots).

Time to look at some flights into/out of ARM by what FR24 is calling an Il-76 RA-78685. I do not think it is RA-78685, I believe it is VKS Il-76MD-90A CANDID RF-78685. I do not know if FR24 is listing the aircraft incorrectly or if the aircraft is intentionally broadcasting false data.

Avikon Tsitotrans Il-76TD CANDID RA-76842 landed at Simon Bolivar International Airport, Caracas VEN. I do not believe there has been a flight to Caracas by a Russian aircraft since 04 Feb when SFS Il-62M CLASSIC RA-86495 landed there and remained until 11 Feb.

On 15 Apr VKS Il-76MD-90A CANDID RF-78666 flew Moscow – Khmejmim Airbase SYR and further south. On 18 Apr it was tracked westbound over COD. On 11 Apr this aircraft was tracked near Dar-es-Salaam and later over the COD. I suspect the aircraft had come from MDG and this looks like more of the same.

This is similar to flights flown in Oct 2025 by Aviakon Tsitotrans Il-76TD CANDID RA-78765 and after leaving Nouakchott it flew to Caracas VEN, so RA-76842 could be en route there.

On 16 Apr Avikon Tsitotrans Il-76TD CANDID RA-76842 took off from Moscow (ZIA) and flew Sochi – Algiers DZA – Rabat MAR – Nouakchott MRT. It took off on 19 Apr and appears to be heading for central/South America.

Again, the Iranian flights to CHN are to many to ignore (and it is easy since I can do them all in one post). These are passenger aircraft but I doubt that they are carrying passengers.

RussianAerospace Forces successfully launch Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket from Plesetsk Cosmodrome#news YouTube video by Random point නාලිකා 84

Video of the launch. The 'Z' Initially used to prevent friendly fire became a widely used Kremlin-backed symbol for public support of the ‘Special Military Operation’ often representing slogans like ‘Za Pobedu’ (‘For Victory’). www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiFU...

Note the ubiquitous ‘Z’ on the rocket, a pro-war symbol adopted by RUS to mark military equipment during the invasion of Ukraine.