There are exceptions to the European Union closing its airspace to Russian planes.
The Ilyushin Il-76TD cargo plane flew from Moscow to Czech Republic via German airspace.
The flight was given special permission from Germany and Czechia's Ministry of Transport, which "issued an exception for the Russian air carrier Volga Dnepr for flights to or from the Czech Republic for the purpose of transporting a specific commodity in the strategic interest of theCzech Republic and other EU
The fuel was received by the country's state-controlled energy company EZ, with the company's spokesman Ladislav K saying, "we can confirm that these were fuel assemblies for the Temeln power plant based on a valid contract and last year's order
The same route was used for another Russian Ilyushin cargo jet to return with Czechia on Tuesday. The reason for that mission is not yet known, but it is likely a similar mission.
In both of our nuclear power plants, we have sufficient stock of fuel assembly. Dates, routes, and the size of deliveries are not publicly available.
The Russian jet had to fly a long route around Europe and over the Baltic Sea in order to avoid closed airspace. Three and a half hours is how long the flight was.
Russian planes were not allowed to fly in the airspace of the EU after the invasion of Ukraine. Both sides were forced to detour around each other after Russia restricted its airspace.
Extra flight time and costs were added by passenger airlines because of this. British Airways added an hour to its journey between New Delhi and London, while Finnair added four hours to its journey from Helsinki to Tokyo.
EU countries can allow Russian planes into their airspace despite the restrictions. In the month of March, another Ilyushin Il-76 flew from Moscow to Slovakia to deliver nuclear fuel.
It was a different route from the one it took on Tuesday over Germany. The Minister of Economy of Slovakia said that he worked with the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allow the overflight.
It took two and a half hours for a different plane from Ilyushin to fly a similar route on March 1.
The Czech Republic is trying to reduce its dependence on Russia.
EZ signed an agreement with a US company to provide fuel for its nuclear power plant.
Nuclear deliveries are not the only exception. A Russian government plane flew from Moscow to Switzerland to pick up diplomats.
According to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the jet was given a "diplomatic clearing" from both countries.
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