Judge Rejects Russia’s Bid To Reclaim Seized Antonov An-124 In Toronto

Published Aug 19, 2026, 9:35 AM EDT A graduate in German, Jake has a passion for history and regional aviation, and enjoys sampling new carriers and aircraft. He has visited OEM facilities as far and wide as Bristol, Toulouse, and Seattle, and recently enjoyed the milestone of flying his 150th sector as a passenger. Based in Norfolk, UK. For the four and a half years that have elapsed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, an Antonov An-124 cargo jet has been stuck at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in the Canadian province of Ontario. The huge aircraft belongs to the Russian charter and airfreight specialist Volga-Dnepr Airlines, and it was seized upon its arrival in Canada after the start of the country's military hostility. Since then, it has become a fixture in the northeast corner of the busiest airport in Canada, and it even appears on satellite imagery provided by Google Maps. Recently, Volga-Dnepr Airlines lodged a legal appeal against the sanctions in order to try to free the jet from its seizure. However, this motion has now been rejected by a judge in Canada, who deemed that the carrier's argument was insufficient. Legal Challenge Rejected Credit: Shutterstock The decision of the appeals court seems to have been a relatively open-and-shut case. According to reporting on the matter by Canadian Aviator, Volga-Dnepr lodged a legal appeal for sanctions relief concerning its stranded cargo jet, but this was rejected by a federal judge, meaning that it will have to continue to stay in Toronto. Global Affairs Canada cited the carrier's support of Russia as a key reason. Indeed, Canadian Aviator notes that it said that Volga-Dnepr Airlines "played a critical role in supporting the efforts of the Russian regime to bypass sanctions imposed by Canada and its allies to obtain goods that are sanctioned." Concern surrounding the use of these goods "in sensitive or military-related sectors" was also a factor. Furthermore, the judge did not find the airline's argument to be sufficient, saying: "[Volga-Dnepr Airlines] has not demonstrated the decision was unreasonable or lacked procedural fairness." The Story So Far Credit: Shutterstock According to coverage of the case by INsauga Ontario Local News, the Volga-Dnepr Airlines first arrived in Toronto on February 27, 2022. It was carrying coronavirus tests from China, and had reportedly stopped off at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in the US state of Alaska along the way. However, it was unable to leave Toronto, with Canadian airspace closed to Russian-registered aircraft. Reporting on the matter by Simple Flying back in June of 2022 highlighted the fact that the parking costs alone for the jet amounted to more than $1,000 a day. With this in mind, and following the aircraft's official seizure by the Canadian government in June of 2023, Volga-Dnepr Airlines applied to be taken off of Canada's sanctions list. It did so on the premise that it had not carried military cargo in five years. However, just like the recent legal appeal for sanctions relief, this motion was also rejected. With that being said, that isn't to say that the jet has been completely devoid of activity since getting stranded in Russia. Indeed, Simple Flying reported 11 months ago that it had been seen moving at Toronto Pearson Airport. However, this was reportedly little more than a maintenance transfer, with no flying in sight. The Plane Has Been In Toronto For So Long That It Appears On Google Maps Credit: Google Maps In the last four years or so, Toronto locals have become more than accustomed to the sight of the huge cargo jet parked at the periphery of the airfield. In fact, it has been parked in the northeast corner of the airport for such a long time that, as seen in the photo embedded above, it is now visible from the air on Google Maps. Keep your eyes peeled next time you're on Highway 427 and Silver Dart Drive! According to present fleet data made available by ch-aviation, RA-82078 is 31.65 years old, having first flown back in 1995. It was delivered to Volga-Dnepr Airlines the following September, and it spent its entire career serving the Russian cargo carrier under this registration before its seizure. Since then, the Canadian government has expressed its desire to transfer the jet to Ukrainian hands.