Volga-Dnepr Group is set to be sold to EAS Group in the first quarter of 2026 after years of financial strain from war-related sanctions, reports London's Air Cargo News.

Russian publication Logirus said a formal sale agreement has been reached between Volga-Dnepr and the Solodilin-led EAS Group. The deal covers three airlines - Volga-Dnepr, Atran and AirBridgeCargo - along with maintenance units Volga-Dnepr Technics and Volga-Dnepr Engineering.

The group now operates only three AN-124 aircraft out of eleven and five IL-76s. Four AN-124s remain abroad under sanctions imposed since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022. Atran has two AN-12s, while AirBridgeCargo has 14 Boeing aircraft in storage, including nine 747-8Fs.

Sanctions have barred Russian carriers from flying over European and North American airspace, curbing operations. One AN-124 was seized in Toronto in 2022, with others impounded elsewhere.

EAS is expected to seek approval to return nine 747-8Fs to lessors and recover aircraft held in Cologne and Leipzig. The company may also integrate Russian IL-96-400, Tu-204 and Tu-214 jets into its fleet.

Aeroflot Group recently expanded its fleet with two 747-400ERFs and two 737-800BCFs placed with subsidiary Rossiya. The source of the freighters was not disclosed, though Volga-Dnepr's AirBridgeCargo and Atran operated both types.