Impact of special military operation in Ukraine and Western sanctions on development of russian aviation market

The EU and the United States tried to use the unsuccessful start of the special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022 to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. The aviation industry has become one of the key areas of implementation of Western sanctions policy, because it`s critical role for country with a large territory and relatively small population. Western governments, aircraft producers and lessors, banned usage of leased aircraft, which made up more than 80% of the fleet of Russian airlines, as well as supply of insurance, maintenance and spare parts for them. Protective policy of the Russian government, which prohibited the return of leased aircrafts to lessors, have allowed airlines to preserve the fleet for domestic market and to arrange aircraft maintenance within the country. The support of the economy and the airline industry made it possible to avoid a sharp drop in demand and bankruptcy of key airlines, as well as contributed to the development of the domestic market and the formation of new hubs in the south and east of the country. This work analyses economic struggle within one industry between Russia and coalition Western states. This research evaluates details of aggressive sanction policy of this coalition and protective measures sovereign state could implement. It assesses the scope of damage that Western countries could manage to inflict on Russian civil aviation and predisposing factors to that. Using air transport industry as an example, this work shows the close interrelationship of economic results and political decisions, the importance of effective sovereign economic policy and the ability to use it to resist political and economic pressure.