Business with the devil or who in the West profits from trading with Kremlin and supports russian fascism
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This article starts a series of materials aimed at exposing those groups in the Western countries that profit from the suffering of Ukrainians and help putin and Moscow's imperialism achieve their goals.
After the invasion of the russian federation (further on in the text the historical name of this state Muscovy is used) in Ukraine, a sufficient number of officials in the West stated that the beginning of the war came as a surprise to them. No one could have imagined such a thing, – they say. After reading all the articles from this series, the reader will be able to draw a conclusion if it is really the case.
After the invasion of the russian federation (further on in the text the historical name of this state Muscovy is used) in Ukraine, a sufficient number of officials in the West stated that the beginning of the war came as a surprise to them. No one could have imagined such a thing, – they say. After reading all the articles from this series, the reader will be able to draw a conclusion if it is really the case.
Our first material is aimed at exposing the activities of the Western companies that help to lay the foundation of the aggressor's army. To date, the European Union has adopted 10 packages of sanctions against Moscow for its unprecedented aggression against Ukraine. Sanctions are set as a goal
But the adoption of sanctions does not automatically guarantee their implementation. According to the investigations by The Insider and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), at least 25 European companies still supply goods to the russian fascist army either directly [1] or through intermediary companies in post-Soviet countries [2].
How exactly do these companies help the aggressor's army? The list of goods is diverse and they play a key role in the production of weapons for the Kremlin's army. The list of products is given below:
- To undermine the Kremlin's ability to finance the war;
- To impose significant economic and political costs on the political elite of Muscovy responsible for the invasion;
- To knock out the military base from under Muscovy.
But the adoption of sanctions does not automatically guarantee their implementation. According to the investigations by The Insider and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), at least 25 European companies still supply goods to the russian fascist army either directly [1] or through intermediary companies in post-Soviet countries [2].
How exactly do these companies help the aggressor's army? The list of goods is diverse and they play a key role in the production of weapons for the Kremlin's army. The list of products is given below:
- Machine tools;
- Microchips;
- Drones;
- Fuses for MLRS systems;
- Engines for warships;
- Body armor;
- Night vision devices;
- Army boots.
Let's use a couple of examples to demonstrate how important the supply of the aforementioned goods is for the Muscovy’s army. In its investigation, "The Insider" clearly shows that the German company Vansped Logistics on behalf of Reißaus & Baumberg Maschinenbau GmbH provides the supply of machine tools with computer numerical control (CNC machine) for the Moscow company Stan LLC which is a contractor for many defense enterprises in Moscow. In particular, Stan LLC supplies products to ODK-Kuznetsov PJSC, which produces engines for Tu-160M strategic bombers. These are the same Tu-160Ms that the aggressor uses to attack peaceful Ukrainian cities with Kh-555 missiles. JSC Uralvagonzavod Research and Production Corporation, another a client of Stan LLC, is the only developer and manufacturer of tanks in Moscow.
Worth emphasizing that the Kremlin has almost no own production of CNC machines and efficient metal cutting tools. All available equipment was/is supplied from the USA, Europe, Japan and other countries. If during the last two decades there was no access to CNC machines for the Muscovy’s defense industry, putin simply would not have such a large amount of modern armament. You can get acquainted with the topic of the Kremlin’s dependence on the supply of the Western equipment following the link [3].
Let's move on to the case of sanctions evasion through intermediary companies in third countries such as Kazakhstan. In its report, OCCRP demonstrates how drones and microchips can easily reach Muscovy right under the nose of European Union. You can study the sanctions evasion schemes in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Without inflow of the microchips many factories of the aggressor will simply stop; as with CNC machines, putin does not have his own production of microchips of the required quality.
Worth emphasizing that the Kremlin has almost no own production of CNC machines and efficient metal cutting tools. All available equipment was/is supplied from the USA, Europe, Japan and other countries. If during the last two decades there was no access to CNC machines for the Muscovy’s defense industry, putin simply would not have such a large amount of modern armament. You can get acquainted with the topic of the Kremlin’s dependence on the supply of the Western equipment following the link [3].
Let's move on to the case of sanctions evasion through intermediary companies in third countries such as Kazakhstan. In its report, OCCRP demonstrates how drones and microchips can easily reach Muscovy right under the nose of European Union. You can study the sanctions evasion schemes in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Without inflow of the microchips many factories of the aggressor will simply stop; as with CNC machines, putin does not have his own production of microchips of the required quality.
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| Fig.2 Sanction circumvention scheme of supplying microchips to russia |
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| Fig.3 Sanction circumvention scheme of supplying drones to russia |
Cases of sanction’ circumventions by Western companies are not new. In 2011, the German company Rheinmetall AG won the tender for the construction of a modern military center in Mulino for the training of the russian army. The European Union introduced the first batch of sanctions against the Kremlin's defense complex due to the occupation of Crimea in 2014. But this did not upset the managers of Rheinmetall AG. Rheinmetall AG officially stopped the construction of the complex and the work was completed by the russian company Garnison. It is interesting that the company's imports came entirely from Germany with the lion's share from Rheinmetall AG [4]. Most likely, Garnison was just a cover company. After the completion of the construction, most of the Russian army is training in Mulino.
What is the conclusion from the above material? Despite the daily deaths of Ukrainians, some representatives of Western elites - owners of corporations, management and big business - continue to arm the Kremlin and receive dividends for it. In addition, there is no effective mechanism for monitoring compliance with sanctions and punishment for violating them.
So, what can we do to change this unjust situation? We can spread information about the circumvention of sanctions and condemn such actions. By exposing the problem, we do not allow evil to commit crimes in silence. Next, the European Commission has to create a sanctions compliance body with the appropriate mandate. At last, The European Union has to ban the re-export of its goods from third countries to the Russian Federation and introduce criminal liability for violating sanctions and supporting the army with the ideology of russian fascism.
So, what can we do to change this unjust situation? We can spread information about the circumvention of sanctions and condemn such actions. By exposing the problem, we do not allow evil to commit crimes in silence. Next, the European Commission has to create a sanctions compliance body with the appropriate mandate. At last, The European Union has to ban the re-export of its goods from third countries to the Russian Federation and introduce criminal liability for violating sanctions and supporting the army with the ideology of russian fascism.
The war will end when the last criminal is punished. We can not allow evil to escape responsibility.
The material is published as part of the project
"Ukrainian spirit"
The material is published as part of the project
"Ukrainian spirit"
[1] Investigation by “The Insider” https://theins.ru/en/economics/261792
[2] Investigation by “Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project” https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/kazakhstan-has-become-a-pathway-for-the-supply-of-russias-war-machine-heres-how-it-works
[3] Kamil Galeev on production capabilities of machine tools in russia https://twitter.com/kamilkazani/status/1539638671749664768
[4] Import breakdown of the company Garnison https://www.importgenius.com/russia/importers/%D0%B0%D0%BE-%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%BD
[2] Investigation by “Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project” https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/kazakhstan-has-become-a-pathway-for-the-supply-of-russias-war-machine-heres-how-it-works
[3] Kamil Galeev on production capabilities of machine tools in russia https://twitter.com/kamilkazani/status/1539638671749664768
[4] Import breakdown of the company Garnison https://www.importgenius.com/russia/importers/%D0%B0%D0%BE-%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%BD
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