iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

On 03 Oct it was tracked likely departing Cairo EGY and is now en route back likely to Ulyanovsk (yellow dot). Where it landed on 02 Oct is a mystery. Flights to MLI go through SYR and/or LBY, so the destination could have been SDN or a country further south.

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On 30 Sep SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82040 flew from Ulyanovsk to Minsk (MSQ) BLR. It took off on 01 Oct and likely flew to a location in southern RUS (Mineral’nye Vody?). It was last tracked on 02 Oct over the Persian Gulf with tracking ending with the aircraft eastbound over the Red Sea.

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I have been chasing this aircraft for 40+ years. It served as the personal staff aircraft for Marshal of the Soviet Union Viktor Kulikov during his tenure as the Commander-in-Chief of the Warsaw Pact Forces (1977-1989).

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

On 01 Oct Tu-134AK CRUSTY Airborne Command Post RA-65690 flew from Moscow (CKL) to K-Grad Chkalovsk. On 03 Oct it took off and is en route back.

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On 29 Sep SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96019 RSD420 (likely Russian Energy Minister Sergej Tsivilev) flew from Bangui CAF to Lomé TGO and on 02 Oct it flew to Naimey NER and is scheduled to return to Moscow later.

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This is interesting: On 30 Sep SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96018 RSD500 took off from Moscow (VKO) landed at K-Grad Khrabrovo. While not unprecedented, this is unusual. I wonder if it had fighter escort?

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I took a lot of pictures over the years I worked in Saudi Arabia but this is my favorite. I took it one morning on my way to work. This is something we saw all the time and we referred to the camels as ‘Saudi spare tires.’

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On 29 Sep VKS Il-62 CLASSIC RA-86559 flew from Moscow (CKL) to Ukrainka Airbase in the Amur region.

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There have recently been several flights by Uz Aero Cargo (Tashkent UZB) Il-76TD CANDID UK76539 between Tashkent and Nis SRB. On 29 Sep the CANDID flew to St P-Burg Pulkovo.

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Bamako was also visited on 27 Sep by SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82035.

After a month fighting wildfires in SRB, on 28 Sep Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) Il-76TD CANDID RA-76841 flew from Moscow (CKL) to Benghazi LBY and continued on the Bamako MLI on 29 Sep. It departed on 30 Sep and is en route back.

reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

On 29 Sep SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96019 RSD420 flew from Moscow (VKO) to Bangui CAF. RSD420 has been associated with Russian Energy Minister Sergej Tsivilev.

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More spoofing: On 29 Sep Abakan Air Il-76TD CANDID RA-76445 took off from Orsha BLR and was spoofed flying over UKR before tracking ceased.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

On 29 Sep SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD788 is airborne from Casablanca MAR en route to the USA.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

After likely air-to-air refueling operations on 28 Sep, on 29 Sep Il-78M-90A MIDAS tanker RF-78741 flew from Belaya Airbase back to Ulyanovsk.

reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

On 28 Sep SFS Il-96 CAMBER RA-96023 RSD788 took off from Moscow (VKO) and is en route to Casablanca MAR. RSD788 has historically been used for trips to the USA and this could be the aircraft’s final destination.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Il-78M-90A tanker RF-78741 landed after a 6+ flight and likely did some air-to-air refueling training with bombers.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Il-78M-90A MIDAS tanker RF-78741 must have flown undetected to Belaya Airbase and on 28 Sep took off and appears to be setting up an air-to-air refueling track near Novosibirsk.

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After a Sunday carrying out more calibration work at St P-Burg Pulkovo on 27 Sep, Letnye Proverki I Sistemy (Flight Inspections and Systems) An-26ASLK CURL RA-26008 appears to be leaving.

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FSB Tu-154M RA-85084 landed at K-Grad Khrabrovo and after approximately an hour on the ground took off and is en route back to RUS.

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On 27 Sep FSB Tu-154M CARELESS RA-85084 CS/FCN RSD64051 took off from Moscow (VKO) and flew to St P-Burg (LED). After less than two hours it took off and is en route to K-Grad. This aircraft usually flies as RSD974.

Last seen on 24 Sep when it exited RUS, SFS An-124 CONDOR RA-82035 stopped at Khmejmim Airbase SYR and continued on to LBY, likely to al Khadim, on 27 Sep it was tracked on approach to Bamako MLI.

Iranian civil flights to CHN, THA, KWT, ARM & TUR still ongoing on 25 Sep. Likely other places as well.

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RA-96024 & RA-96025 still on the ground at St P-Burg Pulkovo. Tu-214PU Airborne Command Post RA-64531 now there as well.

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Il-96PU CAMBER Airborne Command Post RA-96024 flew a ‘Moscow Test Loop’ flight on 18 Sep and Il-96PU Airborne Command Post RA-96025 flew one on 21 Sep, so this could be the start of a trip somewhere.

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25 Sep: So I guess RUS has no problems continuing to let Iranian aircraft use its airspace and land at its airports. Then again, I did not think that it would and it did not take a lot of analytical prowess to come to that conclusion!

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A third Flight Checks and Systems An-26KPA CURL RA-26521 was active around Pulkovo from 25 May – 05 Jun 2025.

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On 22 Sep An-26ASLK CURL RA-26008 arrived from the east and on 23 Sep was active around Pulkovo. This aircraft is also designed to conduct flight checks, calibration and testing of ground-based radio-technical flight support systems, short-range navigation aids (RSBN) and airfield lighting systems.

Recently Letnye Proverki I Sistemy (Flight Inspections and Systems) An-26B CURL RA-26130 was active around St P-Burg on 08 – 09 Sep calibrating airport communication and navigation equipment at St P-Burg Pulkovo.

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He gave an interview and the most interesting part (in my opinion) concerned the composition and future of Russian military forces in SYR. I wonder is this is also Moscow’s view or was this statement just for propaganda?

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Occasionally seen VKS Il-78M2 MIDAS tanker RF-94272 took off from Moscow (ZIA) on 24 Sep and appeared to orbit to the southeast and may have engaged in air-to-air refueling; however, it is hard to tell as it was captured by the GPS spoofer at Krugloe that I have posted about earlier.

Iranian civil aircraft active on 23 Sep at 1600Z.

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As I have stated before, after Shojgu became MoD there was the belief that the MChS became a de facto branch of the MoD.

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RA-76363 also flew to Bamako 02, 06 & 15 Sep and MChS Il-76TD RA-76362 visited Bamako on 10 & 16 Aug. While these flights may carry humanitarian items, they may also support the Afrikanskij Korpus. The fact that RA-76363 departed Moscow (CKL) could point to a military cargo.

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On 21 Sep Ministry of Emergency Situations (MChS) Il-76TD CANDID RA-76363 flew from Moscow (ZIA) to Moscow (CKL) military airfield. It departed on 22 Sep, flew to Benghazi LBY and on 23 Sep continued on to Bamako MLI.

reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

On 21 Sep VKS Il-76MD-90A CANDID RF-78658 flew from Moscow (CKL) to Khmejmim Airbase SYR, departing and after a likely stop at al Khadim LBY continued on to Bamako MLI. After a quick turnaround it flew back to RUS via LBY and SYR.

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After a navigation flight out east, RF-78667 returned to Ulyanovsk. I need to watch this aircraft.

reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

On 21 Sep Il-76MD-90A CANDID RF-78667 still using CS/FCN 571 took off from Ulyanovsk and flew east. I still have a gut feeling this aircraft has been converted to a MIDAS tanker. I have no proof or logical explanation other than I feel it in my guts; I feel it in my ‘water.’ I call it ‘URINT.’

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

The Astrakhan Region Welcomes His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill.

reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Kirill arrives on RA-64531. Is that an Aurus limousine? So much for poverty, humility and chastity!

reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I probably have better things to do than track Patriarch Kirill around but on 20 Sep Tu-214PU Airborne Command Post RA-64531 RSD793 (Kirill’s CS/FCN) took off from Moscow (VKO) and flew to Astrakhan where Kirill visited the newly built Church of St. Alexander Nevsky in Astrakhan.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

On 19 Sep SFS Tu-154B CARELESS RA-85843 again flew from Moscow (CKL) to Khmejmim Airbase SYR returning to RUS after less than two hours on the ground. This aircraft flew to Khmejmim Airbase on 04, 09, 16 & 19 Sep. That is five trips in 16 days.

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reconron @thereccelizard.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Although tracking was a bit weird, it appears that Il-78M-90A MIDAS tanker RF-78741 was active early on 19 Sep working to the east of Belaya Airbase possibly conducting air-to-air refueling. The MIDAS deploy to Belaya on 18 Sep.