Russia passed legislation on Monday allowing the country’s airlines to re-register planes leased from abroad in an attempt to avoid Western sanctions.

The bill, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, aims to support domestic flights in Russia and “ensure the uninterrupted operation of civil aviation activities.”

Western sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine gave plane leasing companies until March 28 to reclaim aircraft from the country.

Russian airlines have approximately 780 leased jets, with 515 of them leased from outside sources.

The majority of foreign-leased jets in Russia are registered in Bermuda and Ireland.

The aviation authorities in those countries had stated that they were suspending airworthiness certificates for those planes.

Planes cannot fly unless they have an airworthiness certificate issued by the civil aviation authority in the country where they are registered.

According to Reuters, re-registering foreign-owned planes in Russia would aim to avoid that requirement.