MOSCOW, (Reuters) – The Belarusian state-owned airline Belavia claimed on Friday that its aircraft fleet was reduced by half because the European Union had placed sanctions against it.

On Thursday, the EU sanctioned Belavia, accusing it that it flew in migrants to try and destabilise European countries. Washington coordinated punitive actions.

Officials from the EU have stated that EU companies cannot lease aircraft to this airline because of sanctions.

Belavia released a statement saying that “Due to restrictions”, the airline was forced to lower its fleet. The company currently has 15 aircraft.

The company did not say which 14 Boeing (NYSE 🙂 or 15 Embraer aircraft it had previously removed from the fleet.

At the close of last year, 15 airplanes were owned by the airline, 5 Embraer aircraft and 8 Boeing planes. The same number was on lease. Air Lease Corporation (NYSE:) Corporation is one of Belavia’s largest suppliers of leased aircraft.

Belavia is the ex-Soviet’s only air carrier, employing 9.5m people. It stated that it would rebuild its fleet through both purchasing and leasing planes from companies outside the EU.

After an international uproar over the downing of Ryanair in Belarus and subsequent arrests of dissidents, many European airspaces have been closed to them.