A Belorussian citizen was extradited from France to the United States on Monday where she faces charges for allegedly selling sensitive aircraft equipment to Russia, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
An FBI investigation into Yana Leonova, 33, allegedly revealed an illegal scheme of importing airplane parts to Russia following the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in May 2022.
The indictment filed against Leonova, who most recently lived in Russia, alleges she used people living in the United States to procure and illegally export avionics and other aircraft equipment and sell it to Russia.
The exported items were for use on private aircraft operated by Leonova’s former employer—a company listed on the United States’ restricted foreign persons and organizations list….