Kansans accused of selling aviation tech to Russia

The Justice Department on Thursday arrested two Kansas men on allegations that the pair illegally exported aviation-related technology to Russia and provided repair services for the equipment.

Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky and Douglas Robertson are charged with conspiracy, exporting controlled goods without a license, falsifying and failing to file electronic export information, and smuggling goods in violation of U.S. law.

The charges come as the U.S. has ramped up sanctions and financial penalties on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022. With thousands of sanctions on people and companies, export controls on the Kremlin are meant to limit access to computer chips and other products needed to equip a modern military.

The Justice Department said Buyanovsky and Robertson owned and operated Kanrus Trading Co. and supplied aircraft electronics to Russian companies and provided repair services for equipment used in Russian-manufactured aircraft.

The indictment alleged that since 2020, they conspired to evade U.S. export laws by concealing and misstating the true end users and destinations of their exports and by shipping equipment through third-party countries.

They face up to 35 years in prison if convicted. Lawyers for Buyanovsky and Robertson couldn’t be identified from the provided documents, and the Justice Department didn’t respond to a request for their information.

Since the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, U.S. officials have said they would increase enforcement and sanctions on people and entities that help Russia in the procurement of weaponry and technology that would bolster its military.