Yana Leonova, a 33-year-old Belarusian citizen, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to illegally exporting U.S.-sourced avionics and other aircraft equipment to Russia following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Leonova, who most recently resided in Russia, admitted to violating the Export Control Reform Act by procuring components from U.S. distributors and illicitly shipping them to Russia.
According to court documents, Leonova and her co-conspirators used shell companies, false paperwork, and foreign intermediaries, including entities in Armenia, to conceal the true end users and destinations. These components were transshipped to Russia without the necessary licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Payments in U.S. dollars were also transmitted from foreign bank accounts to U.S. accounts as part of the scheme.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro emphasized the commitment to prosecuting those who exploit U.S. supply chains. "Anyone who thinks they can exploit U.S. supply chains to arm our adversaries should look carefully at what happened to Yana Leonova," Pirro said. FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Berkebile of the Kansas City Field Office added, "No matter where you are, the FBI will not stop to ensure you face justice when you violate U.S. laws."
The exported items were intended for private aircraft operated by Leonova’s former employer, a company listed on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List for activities contrary to U.S. national security. Leonova was extradited from France in November 2025 in connection with this case. Sentencing is scheduled for August 10, 2026.