A Tu-154M formerly operated by Alrosa has returned to the skies after about a decade on the ground, flying from Mirny to Novosibirsk-Tolmachevo on 26 October. The aircraft, registered RA-85782, could be intended for a government or military transport role in Russia, although no official confirmation has linked it to the Ministry of Defence or the Aerospace Forces.
RA-85782 was configured as a 53-seat VIP aircraft and was associated originally with the leadership of the Sakha Republic. Alrosa acquired the aircraft in 2005 and later operated it in the same VIP configuration. It has not flown since 2014 and still carries the airline’s livery.
The aircraft reportedly arrived at Tolmachevo before moving to another, unspecified base. Russian aviation Telegram channels have claimed that it was restored for future operations on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and may have been taken over by the Aerospace Forces. Those claims have not been confirmed by Alrosa, the Russian government, the military or the aircraft’s registered owner.
The flight is therefore not evidence of a confirmed ownership transfer, military contract or return to commercial service. Alrosa was the last Russian commercial airline known to operate the Tu-154, which effectively disappeared from the country’s regular passenger market in 2020. RA-85782 is instead expected, if reactivated, to serve in a government, military or other special-purpose transport role.