(Reuters] – Russia’s most important airline Aeroflot announced Friday that eight Airbus aircraft were purchased from foreign leasing companies.

Russian authorities stated that they have transferred over 50% of the foreign aircraft on Russian territory to Russia’s registry in March. This was so Russian airlines can continue using these aircraft.

Because of international sanctions, Western lease companies have had to cancel the agreements for more than 500 Russian-owned aircraft. The government said that they would not return the aircraft, as more than 400 were still in Russia.