Despite a strict EU arms embargo and heightened U.S. sanctions, Russia continues to receive Western-manufactured sniper rifles and ammunition, according to an investigation by The Insider, investigace.cz, IrpiMedia, and Vlast.kz.
The report reveals that over the past three years, weapons from the EU, U.S., and Türkiye have flowed through neighboring countries like Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
These nations, serving as intermediaries, have significantly increased arms imports, likely re-exporting them to Russia.
From 2020 to 2023, exports of firearms to these Central Asian countries surged from 19,556 to 53,211 units—a two-and-a-half-fold increase.
Italy’s rifle and shotgun exports to Armenia jumped nearly 30 times, from 68 units in 2019 to 1,862 in 2023. Kyrgyzstan, which reported no imports from Italy in 2020 and 2021, received 4,434 units by 2023.
Meanwhile, Türkiye’s arms exports to Georgia more than doubled, reaching 18,843 units last year.
Investigators highlighted Luxembourg-based Beretta as Europe’s largest arms manufacturer with links to Russia. Despite sanctions, Beretta remains the majority owner of its Russian subsidiary, which was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in June.
Russian sniper competitions in September 2024 at the Angarsky training ground in occupied Crimea further showcased Moscow’s reliance on Western rifles and ammunition.
Both civilian and military participants predominantly used imported equipment over domestically produced arms.
