Höller’s investigation, “Russian shadow airlines use Algeria as base for secretive missions,” traces at least 167 cargo flights between Russia and Algeria between March 2025 and April 2026. Drawing on flight-tracking data, satellite imagery, and expert interviews, Höller shows that Algeria has emerged as a key hub in Russia’s global logistics network, supporting both military exports and Moscow’s broader efforts to project influence across Africa.
A central finding of the investigation is the strategic role played by ostensibly civilian cargo airlines operating aircraft closely linked to the Russian state. Höller documents how these operators connect Russian aircraft manufacturing sites, military facilities, and destinations across North and West Africa. The investigation includes the first published interview with a shadow airline CEO about the topic, which confirmed key details from an inside perspective.
The findings illustrate the broader logistics infrastructure Moscow uses to circumvent international sanctions and export controls imposed as a response to the war in Ukraine. They serve as critical lifelines to support the Russian military and industrial base. These opaque networks also raise broader concerns about the movement of sensitive materials across the region.
