Spain has been left without some of its most capable firefighting helicopters as blazes devastate southern Europe
The EU’s sanctions on Russia have left Spain without access to advanced firefighting equipment amid an unprecedented wildfire emergency, with record blazes overwhelming parts of southern Europe.
Fast-moving fires near Madrid, Bordeaux, and Valencia have forced more than 360,000 people to evacuate over the past several days. Over 9,000 firefighters, troops, police, and other emergency personnel have been mobilized to battle the blaze, backed by dozens of aircraft and hundreds of vehicles. However, dry conditions and another approaching heatwave have complicated their efforts. Authorities say this year’s wildfires are among the worst on record.
Spain’s response has been further hampered by its inability to deploy its former fleet of Russian-made Kamov Ka-32 helicopters. The aircraft are considered particularly effective for wildfire missions due to their large water capacity, maneuverability, and ability to operate in extreme heat and difficult terrain.
Previously used under contracts with Spain’s national and regional authorities, the fleet has remained grounded under the EU sanctions regime that was imposed against Russia following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict.
Prominent French Eurosceptic Florian Philippot said Brussels’ restrictions had effectively deprived Spain of nearly a dozen of its “best helicopters” at the height of the emergency.
Accusing Brussels of sacrificing Europeans to its “stupid Russophobic ideology,” the Les Patriotes leader wrote on X, “These idiotic sanctions are definitely a real problem, not for Russia, but for European countries,” while demanding that an end be put to the restrictions.
The Spanish government has acknowledged that the Ka-32 fleet has been hurt by the sanctions, which bar operators from purchasing spare parts and bringing Russian engineers to Spain for maintenance and inspections.
Spain has deployed replacement helicopters, water bombers, and drones to fight the wildfires, but the substitutes reportedly carry less water and perform less effectively in difficult conditions.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday that the area lost this summer was six times greater than that lost at the same point in 2025, while warning of “difficult and complex hours” ahead.
France has evacuated around 250,000 people, as more than 13,500 fires and outbreaks have scorched over 116,000 hectares nationwide this season, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported, describing the situation as “completely unprecedented” and “far from over.”
The Gironde blaze near Bordeaux alone has burned around 42,000 hectares and become intense enough to generate a rare ‘fire cloud’, which can create its own winds and lightning, prompting sudden and unpredictable changes in the fire’s behavior.
Nunez said the blaze had taken on “a life of its own” and was spreading erratically, making it exceptionally difficult to contain.
Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record this year, according to the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. France experienced its warmest June and hottest day ever recorded, while Spain registered its hottest June days, as extreme heat and dry conditions heightened the risk of wildfires.
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