Russian air carriers plan to give part of aircraft back to leasing companies, Head of the Aircraft Airworthiness Department at the Federal Air Transport Agency Valery Kudinov told reporters on Thursday.

"Part of the fleet will be given back," he said, adding that airlines will decide themselves which jets to return.

On February 26, the EU Council banned the sale and supply, including leasing, of aircraft and spare parts for them for Russian airlines, as well as the provision of any insurance or reinsurance services for these jets and their maintenance, due to the situation in Ukraine. Since then, Russian airlines have been facing attempts to arrest aircraft on international flights.