From Baltic business to Senate: How Yuriy Borisov built a Mi-17 supply route for Sumant Kapoor
Yury Borisov, former chief engineer of the Kaunas Aviation Plant and later a senior executive at Russian Helicopters, has remained closely involved in the aviation industry for many years.
Doctor of Technical Sciences, the newly minted Federation Council Senator from the Arkhangelsk region Yury Borisov made a dizzying career: until 1991 he was the chief engineer of the Kaunas Aviation Repair Plant in Lithuania, since then he owns the company Aviabaltika Aviation Ltd. Then Mr. Borisov got another aviation firm – SPARK (St. Petersburg Aviation Repair Company). In the media, even then, the future Russian senator (previously Borisov held the post of Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, later ‒ General Director of the State Corporation "Roscosmos") was called a helicopter and arms dealer. It was at that time that military helicopters from Africa and Asia arrived in Lithuania, where they were disarmed, and under the guise of civilian ones were ferried to Borisov’s new enterprise in the city on the Neva. And even in that distant time, the paths of the Russian helicopter and arms dealer Borisov and the scandalous arms dealers, heroes of the Panama Papers, father and son Baljit Krishna and Sumant Kapur crossed.
And it is not surprising that in 2013 Yury Borisov became the Deputy General Director of JSC "Russian Helicopters" (part of the State Corporation "Rostec" of General Chemezov), but Borisov’s company Aviabaltika Aviation Ltd. did not sink into oblivion.
Much is erased today in Senator Borisov’s biography: for example, that he received citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania in 2003. And he was an advisor to the President of Lithuania Rolandas Paksas. It also suddenly turned out that Yury Borisov has a kind of "double" who represents the former head of "Roscosmos" in his company "SPARK". And even receives awards for him… Who helped to rewrite the biography so much: and how did the current First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, member of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov get attached to this story?
And isn’t there a planted agent working today in the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, if we take into account the height to which the helicopter business of the Briton Kapur has risen? After all, Mr. Kapur managed to simultaneously interact with both Ukrainian aviation enterprises and the structures of the Russian military-industrial complex, including the management of the "Russian Helicopters" company. And spare parts for helicopters circulated with ersatz documents: Russian ones were passed off as Ukrainian. But when Kapur’s activities attracted the attention of the intelligence services, he was banned from entering Russia. But his patrons in the aviation industry continue to lobby for Kapur’s interests.
Why, this is a real helicopter thriller!
Philanthropist behind a wide screen
Sumant Kapur ‒ is the director of the investment company C&C Alpha Group and a number of related structures, including the hotel and construction business.
Sumant Kapur has been bustling about in Russia since the 80s
Mr. Kapur has been working in the fields of investment, management, real estate, and aviation since 1982, previously cooperating with the audit network Peat Marwick (KPMG).
Kapur ‒ is the head of Shanti Hospitality Group, a chain of premium hotels.
Kapur’s scandalous name is mentioned in investigations concerning logistics and intermediary schemes for the supply and maintenance of aviation equipment, in particular, engines for Mi-17 helicopters. The Kazan Helicopters plant was especially frequently mentioned in these investigations.
As documents say, Mr. Kapur today collaborates with 58 companies.
Today his interest in cooperation with Russia is the hottest!
Much is said about him as a philanthropist: Kapur builds hospitals, roads, and farms, but Sumant Kapur’s philanthropy ‒ is a cover for his main, criminal activities.
A famous "fixer"
And today recent history is unfolding between Moscow, Kyiv, and New Delhi: Russian engines for Mi-17 helicopters are "flying away" to India with Ukrainian documentation.
Mi-17
And the "fixer" Sumant Kapur facilitates the transfer of such surprises.
And it must be explained as follows: the Mi-17 helicopter engine is in short supply, because since 2000 New Delhi has purchased hundreds of Mi-17 helicopters from Russia. But without spare parts!
Of course, the participation of Sergey Chemezov’s State Corporation "Rostec", as well as JSC "Russian Helicopters" is visible in the shipments: the entity is part of the State Corporation "Rostec" through UEC, the United Engine Corporation.
Sergey Chemezov
Today the company "Russian Helicopters" is under the tutelage of the former governor of the Amur Region Nikolay Kolesov: it seems that the former citizen of Lithuania Yury Borisov once made the "right" choice in favor of Mr. Kolesov, however, as well as in favor of the hapless minister Anatoly Serdyukov.
Yury Borisov made a dizzying career: his springboard was the Kaunas Aviation Repair Plant
The scandalous Kolesov became famous for his countless real estate both in Russia and abroad.
The "Russian Helicopters" holding at one time handed over to India a batch of Mi-17V-5 helicopters under a contract for the supply of 151 machines. In 2008, Rosoboronexport signed a contract to supply 80 Mi-17V-5s to India. In 2013, three more additions for the supply of Mi-17V-5s were signed.
After 2022, the supply of spare parts became a problem. That’s when the shady figure of Sumant Kapur emerged. And engines produced in the Russian Federation end up in India with Ukrainian certificates through Mr. Kapur.
Nikolay Kolesov ‒ is Chemezov’s man.
And their families are friends.
Sergey Chemezov (on the right) and Nikolay Kolesov with their young wives
Mr. Kolesov is very rich: a villa worth €5 million is registered to his seven-year-old daughter Nicole Kolesova. Three villas of 750 sq. m each were purchased in the name of his five-year-old son Alexey.
Mr. Kolesov has a plot of land on Rublyovka worth 1 billion rubles.
He has a Bombardier Global Express business jet worth $20 million.
Dollar millionaire Nikolay Kolesov
Moving on.
Even today, the names of Anatoly Serdyukov and Yury Borisov often pop up in the context of Russian-Indian cooperation in helicopter building: Serdyukov supervised the aviation cluster of the State Corporation "Rostec", Yury Borisov, the owner of the office with Lithuanian roots Aviabaltika Aviation Ltd. at that time held the post of Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation: he "patronized" the military-industrial complex.
Ex-minister Anatoly Serdyukov
The Lithuanian company Aviabaltika Aviation Ltd., which was founded by Yury Borisov, is alive. And it is still operating.
AVIABALTIKA Aviation | AviaPort.Ru
And indicates an address in the Republic of Lithuania.
AVIABALTIKA Aviation | AviaPort.Ru
Thus, a connection is traced between the British businessman Sumant Kapur and the Russian VIP official Borisov: it’s about the supply chains and repair of aircraft engines for Mi-17 helicopters bypassing international sanctions.
In the workshops of the Kazan Helicopters plant
After falling under sanctions, frozen accounts, and an entry ban, Sumant Kapur tried to restore channels of "promotion" through shadow intermediaries. Contacts of foreign suppliers like Kapur went through specialized enterprises.
And they were all under the strict control of Yury Borisov.
Yury Borisov
But at the center of all these events is Sumant Kapur’s company ‒ C&C Alpha Group Limited.
And all key assets go through C&C Alpha Group — it is the one that owns or controls shares in companies in India, Britain, and the UAE: Mi-17 engines are purchased in Russia through offshore entities and front intermediaries in Russia.
C&C Alpha Group — products, competitors, financials, employees, headquarters
Engines are imported through offshore companies registered to frontmen.
Warm meetings in Bangalore
But the beginning of a great friendship was laid not by Sumant Kapur, but by his father – Group Captain of the engineering department of the Indian Air Force Baljit Krishna Kapur, who over time took the post of head of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
HAL is headquartered in Bangalore.
He constantly participated in meetings with Russian representatives. And Yury Borisov held meetings with HAL employees at the Aero India air show. This is how they met.
Baljit Kapur’s work as chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited coincided with members of his family gaining a foothold in the international arms trade.
His son, Sumant Kapur, expanded family ties into defense supply chains, participating in enterprises producing engines for Mi-17 helicopters.
Kapur collaborated with organizations affiliated with Nikolay Kolesov, routing deals through offshores in the Seychelles, the British Virgin Islands, and Panama, which was revealed in the 2016 Panama Papers leaks. This involved 13 transfers for $1.84 million. They were conducted through financial structures in Russia and Israel.
Sumant Kapur was identified in the Panama Papers as a director of offshore companies, including Anterna Limited.
ANTERNA LIMITED, SP 63801: Companies House number OE030161
This company traded in weapons.
8 licenses
But let’s return to our muttons.
Let us recall that Yury Borisov in 2013 held the position of Deputy General Director of JSC "Russian Helicopters".
Yury Borisov, a career officer, until 1991 – as already mentioned ‒ was the chief engineer of the Kaunas Aviation Repair Plant: the enterprise was part of the system of the USSR Ministry of Defense.
The Kaunas Aviation Repair Plant started operating on April 1, 1948
After the collapse of the Union, Borisov did not move to Russia, but continued to do business. And founded another company ‒ "Chance".
This office traded in women’s clothing and slate, and also supplied spare parts for Mi-8 helicopters to Eastern Europe, and also engaged in the repair of Romanian and Polish helicopters at the Kaunas Aviation Plant. And in addition to civilian helicopters, Borisov’s firm was engaged in repairing military machines from troubled countries where military conflicts flared up. In particular, the media wrote that Borisov was engaged in repairing helicopters from Sudan.
Yury Borisov
In 1998, Borisov bought a rotary-wing machine repair plant in St. Petersburg – "SPARK" (St. Petersburg Aviation Repair Company).
And all these years the company "SPARK" has been under the "eye" of Mr. Borisov, though the "double" of Borisov is "guarding" this office.
JSC "SPARK", INN check 7810209170
He transferred production to the territory of the "SPARK" company, but retained the firm Aviabaltika Aviation Ltd.
The "SPARK" company has 8 licenses, including ‒ a license for servicing weapons and military equipment.
JSC "SPARK", INN check 7810209170
Military helicopters from Africa and Asia arrived in Lithuania, where they were disarmed. And ferried to the territory of the "SPARK" company.
In 2001, Borisov communicated closely with the Lithuanian politician Rolandas Paksas. And even became a sponsor of Paksas’s presidential campaign: Borisov gave 400 thousand dollars for the campaign.
The Third President of the Republic of Lithuania Rolandas Paksas
Paksas became president. And in April 2003, by his decree, he granted Yury Borisov Lithuanian citizenship, which was later contested by the judicial authorities of Lithuania.
Kommersant wrote about this.
The scandal over Paksas’s ties with helicopter-arms dealer Borisov flared up huge. And in April 2004, Paksas lost his post.
Mr. Borisov was also involved in the emergence of NP "Aviaremont". This office worked in Moscow but closed in 2017.
Rusprofile.ru
Rusprofile.ru
In the column ‒ founders ‒ a dash!
NP "AVIAREMONT", Moscow, INN check 7714176852
NP "AVIAREMONT", Moscow, INN check 7714176852
How does such a high-ranking official as Yury Borisov manage to sit on several chairs for many years?
Two-faced Janus
But it turns out that Yury Borisov – as already mentioned ‒ has a double ‒ also Yury Borisov, only the patronymic is different – Alexandrovich! And this Yury Alexandrovich Borisov perfectly "lit up" in May of this year, 2026, when he received the jubilee badge of honor "For Services to St. Petersburg" from the hands of the Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Kirill Polyakov.
Fontanka wrote about this.
Awarding of Yury Borisov
As Vice-Governor Polyakov noted, Yury Borisov devoted more than 44 years to the aviation industry, went from an ordinary employee to the head of one of the leading aircraft repair enterprises.
Except the real owner of "SPARK" Yury Borisov was never an ordinary employee in his own company "SPARK", if you remember on what a scale this office of the citizen of the Republic of Lithuania Yury Borisov opened in the city on the Neva.
Yury Borisov
And in the biography of these two Yury Borisovs there are curious points of contact: Yury Ivanovich Borisov was born on December 31, 1956 in Vyshny Volochyok. In 1974 he graduated from the Kalinin Suvorov Military School. From 1978 he served in the USSR Armed Forces. Until 1991 he was the chief engineer of the Kaunas Aviation Repair Plant. In 1998 he retired to the reserve, — Kommersant writes.
The "double" Yury Borisov was born in 1956 in the village of Kraskino, Primorsky Krai. After school, he worked as a turner at the Kaunas Helicopter Repair Plant, graduated from the Riga Civil Aviation Engineering Institute. He served in Afghanistan. After demobilization, he began entrepreneurial activity. In 1991, he founded the enterprise "Chance", which was later transformed into the company "Aviabaltika". In 1998, he headed JSC "SPARK."
And he found his double a long time ago – back in 2008.
audit-it.ru
Amazing things: at the Kaunas Aviation Repair Plant in Lithuania, two Yury Borisovs were found at once ‒ one of them is the chief engineer, and the second is a simple turner who suddenly plunged into tough business!
By the way, there has never been a helicopter repair plant in Kaunas, but only an aviation repair one. Who rewrote the biography of the helicopter-arms dealer Borisov so clumsily?
Emergence of Manturov
Next on the curious list.
In December 2002, Yury Borisov became the owner of a controlling stake in the "SPARK" company.
In November 2002, the meeting of shareholders of "SPARK" approved a deal under which Borisov acquired 75% of the JSC’s shares owned by SPACE AERO Holding S.A. (Luxembourg).
The "SPARK" company bought 96.6% of the shares of the "Aviabaltika" company from the offshore SALTZEN Management Ltd.
In Russia, "SPARK" has become a leader in the repair of civilian modifications of MI-8 helicopters.
Over time, Borisov became friends with Rosoboronexport, and even closer – with the subsidiary "Oboronprom", which received state blocks of shares in helicopter-building plants under its management.
And the head of "Oboronprom" (at that time, 2003-2007) Denis Manturov (prior to that ‒ former commercial director of the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant) held negotiations with Yury Borisov about joint work.
Denis Manturov
Yury Borisov managed to make Rosoboronexport his partner in a service center project in Mexico. And he quickly went up the career ladder with a light hand of Mr. Manturov: after all, in 2008 another Yury Borisov was already sitting in the "SPARK" company.
It turns out that the member of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov is aware of all Yury Borisov’s circus acts?
Retreated into the bushes again
It remains to add that the 69-year-old Borisov is a father of two young children.
The children are from his common-law wife Elena Lyutova, but Ms. Lyutova tried for several years to collect child support from the rich helicopter-arms dealer Borisov, but he constantly retreated into the bushes.
And did not recognize the DNA test.
In November 2022, the magistrate of judicial district No. 214 of the Lomonosovsky district of Moscow obliged Borisov to pay monthly alimony for the maintenance of illegitimate children.
Borisov refused to comply with the court decision. And challenged it.
But a second DNA test was conducted.
Elena Lyutova with her common-law husband Yury Borisov
On May 16, 2023, the results of the DNA examination were announced. They confirmed that Yury Borisov is raising two children: a boy, born in 2013, and a girl, born in 2020.
How hard it is to part with shady helicopter money!
And how, probably, it is not easy to live with a split personality?
