Goods sent from the European Union worth more than EUR 1 billion have “disappeared” in transit through Russia on their way to their recipients in Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, reports Financial times, with reference to open source information.
This is about so-called dual-use goods, the export of which to Russia is banned by sanctions.
Random checks of exports worth two billion from the EU revealed that only half of those goods have reached their recipients – the rest remain in Russia.
These goods, according to Financial Times, can be used for civilian and military purposes.
Western officials believe these grey transit operations have helped Russian President Vladimir Putin save the country’s economy during war.
The publication mentions that these goods were brought to Russia from the EU directly, claiming they are passing the country in transit.
Financial Times claims Russia has managed to circumvent sanctions using help from agents, mediators and suppliers by stating false information in customs papers about the intended destination of those goods.
As a result, the newspaper continues, Russia has managed to acquire important goods like aircraft components, optical equipment and gas turbines.
According to information about imports of various categories of goods, gas turbines, soldering irons and radio equipment – none of the goods in these categories sent from the EU have reached their delivery destination.
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