reconron

Wow! 224th SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82030 just 'popped up' and is en route to K-Grad.

So, when Putin leaves there will probably be several aircraft take off in succession and we can play another round of ‘Where’s Putin.’

On 10 Oct Il-96PU CAMBER Airborne Command Post RA-96025 RSD233 took off from Moscow (VKO) and flew to St P-Burg (LED), took off and flew south when tracking dropped. Putin is still in Dushanbe TJK and that is likely where RA-96025 went.

After the A-100 program was canceled it was repurposed as another export CANDID. On its website, Rosoborn Export is now also advertising RA-78651 as an Il-76MD-90AE. I guess the A-100 program really is dead! roe.ru/en/productio...

Another Il-76MD-90A CANDID, RA-78651 (series 0103) was sent to Taganrog in November 2014 to become the first A-100 AWACS.

It was converted into a MIDAS tanker at the Aviastar SP factory Ulyanovsk to make it dual-use, transport and tanker. which expands its capabilities. It deployed to DZA from 26 Aug to 01 Sep to market the aircraft there.

Those who follow my posts know that I have posted extensively on the Il-76MD-90A CANDID RA-78650. This aircraft was marketed in the Middle East as an Il-76MD-90AE, with the ‘E’ being for export.

It was converted into a MIDAS tanker at the Aviastar SP factory Ulyanovsk to make it dual-use, transport and tanker. which expands its capabilities. It deployed to DZA from 26 Aug to 01 Sep to market the aircraft there.

Another source told me that Il-76TD CANDID 7T-WIB also flew to Moscow (VKO). This is even more interesting!

On 09 Oct Algerian Air Force Il-76TD CANDID 7T-WIA flew from Algiers DZA (via European airspace) to Moscow (VKO). This is interesting!

SFS Il-62M CLASSIC RA-86495 returned from Caracas VEN on 08 Oct and flew to Algiers DZA. It departed and flew to Moscow on 09 Oct.

On 08 Oct Tu-204 VIP RA-64059 RSD844 took off from Moscow (VKO), flew east and just entered PRK airspace with a likely destination of Pyongyang.

SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82040 resurfaces again. On 08 Oct the aircraft was southbound over RUS and likely stopped at Mineral’nye Vody for 6+ hours. It is now airborne and southbound. I was expecting another trip to IRN but the CONDOR appears to be en route to Africa.

On 07 Oct VKS Il-76MD CANDID RA-78847 flew from Moscow (ZIA) to Dushanbe. It likely carried Putin’s ADVON team and his Aurus limo (or two, or three).

Il-96PU CAMBER Airborne Command Post RA-96025 RSD517 is stopping at Moscow and may also fly to Dushanbe. It appeared to be in a holding pattern while approaching Moscow.

Putin is going to TJK. SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD197 arrived in Dushanbe. Il-96PU CAMBER Airborne Command Post RA-96024 RSD411 is en route. x.com/tassagency_e...

As a rule I still leave out political assessments; however, in this case I will make one: If the war in UKR is going so well, why does Putin have to sneak around in his own country playing a ‘shell game’ with the aircraft he flies on?

I was in the Intel business for over 40 years and wrote innumerable reports, but it was always just like the ‘50s FBI TV series Dragnet: ‘Just the facts ma’am, just the facts.’

On 08 Oct Il-96PU CAMBER Airborne Command Posts RA-96025 (another Putin aircraft) RSD517 flew from Moscow (VKO) to St P-Burg (LED). Putin will likely fly back to Moscow on one of these aircraft, but will keep us guessing which one he is on.

On 07 Oct Tu-204 VIP RA-64059 RSD500 Il-96PU CAMBER Airborne Command Posts RA-96022 RSD555 & RA-96024 (one of Putin’s aircraft) RSD801 flew from Moscow to St P-Burg. Putin held a meeting there boasting about how well the ‘Special Military Operation’ in UKR is going: www.reuters.com/world/europe...

On 06 Oct 224th Special Flight Squadron An-124 CONDOR RA-82040 took off from Irkutsk and is possibly en route to IRN to deliver more MiG-29 FULCRUM.

I forgot to add that Pouya Air Il-76TD CANDID EP-PUL has also flown into and out of Nashik IND and Gyumri ARM. Dates were: 21-22, 29-30, Aug; 04-05, 08, 11, 26 Sep. Between EP-PUS and EP-PUL I count 23 flights and there could have been some that were not tracked (or that I missed).

Lithuania's Vilnius Airport reopens after unknown balloon sightings halt flights over the weekend. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

Here are the flights to date: 15, 18 Dec 2024; 18 Mar; 13-14 Apr, 31 May -01 Jun; 02-03 Jun; 17-18, 19-20, 22-23, 27-28 Jul; 01, 07-09, 14-15 Aug; 16, 18, 25 Sep; 04 Oct 2025. Earlier this aircraft also likely flew to Urumqi CHN and for some time made weekly trips from Tehran to Moscow.

On 04 Oct Pouya Air Il-76TD CANDID EP-PUS flew from Tehran into and out of Nashik IND. Later it was tracked flying southeast over ARM, likely from Gyumri. This is a pattern of flights that have been going on for some time are likely connected with the transport of drones/drone components.

It is possible (likely) for security reasons that Putin did not fly back on RA-96025 but instead on RA-96024 and got off at St P-Burg (as I think he spends most of his time there now).

RA-96025 RSD431 landed at Moscow (VKO). Il-96PU Airborne Command Post RA-96024 (another Putin aircraft) RSD435 took off from (VKO) and flew to Sochi. After approximately two hours then flew to St P-Burg (LED) as RSD405. It took off after an hour as RSD435 and appears to be en route back to Moscow.

Russia Further Honours North Korean Forces Amid Major Wartime Support Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and his North Korean counterpart General No Kwang Chol have jointly unveiled a sculpture commemorating the war effort of Korean

This is likely connected with the flight to Moscow by Air Koryo Il-62M CLASSIC P-881 on 30 Sep – 01 Oct. Russia Further Honours North Korean Forces Amid Major Wartime Support. militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russ...

On 04 Oct Il-96PU Airborne Command Post RA-96025 RSD431 likely with Putin on board departed Sochi and is probably headed back to Moscow or St P-Burg.

After leaving K-Grad Chernyakhovsk 224th SFS Il-76MD CANDID RA-78844 flew to Murmansk and was later tracked southbound descending near Plesetsk.