Espreso. Global

Russia imports thousands of sights made in USA, Japan and Austria during large-scale war

27 December, 2023 Wednesday
13:49

During the full-scale invasion, Russia has imported sights worth 16 billion rubles (UAH 6.5 billion) from the United States, Japan, and Austria

client/title.list_title

The publication Vazhnyye Istorii reports.

It is noted that in 2022-2023, sights worth 16 billion rubles were imported to Russia. The purpose is "installation on hunting weapons" and "not for military use." However, some of it ends up at the front in Ukraine. 

"On YouTube, you can find dozens of videos in which Russian soldiers demonstrate scopes from Western manufacturers - Leupold (USA), Nightforce - once, twice, three times, four times (USA-Japan), Holosun (USA-China), Swarovski Optik (Austria)," the statement says.

In addition, the St. Petersburg-based online store Pointer operates under the slogan "We have everything for successful hunting." Since the beginning of the war, the company has imported nearly 50,000 scopes made by the American-Chinese manufacturer Holosun for more than 3 billion rubles. In total, the company has imported 17 billion rubles worth of goods for hunting and sports, many of which are also used at the front.

In 2022-2023, the so-called "hunting" goods were purchased from Pointer by, among others, arms companies. The rifle manufacturer Orsis and Promtechnologiya bought 55 million rubles worth of goods. The Hunt store, owned by the Bespoke Gun rifle manufacturer, was bought for 33 million.

Since the Russian war against Ukraine began, the Moscow-based Navigator company has been transporting sights worth about 400 million rubles, including more than 2,000 from the Holosun (USA-China) manufacturer. The total amount of goods was 4.5 billion rubles.

The publication notes that the importation of scopes and other hunting goods into Russia is carried out through parallel imports - manufacturers most likely do not know where their goods end up. In particular, Pointer uses dealers in China, while Navigator uses dealers in Turkey and Kazakhstan.

  • Military expert and Defence Express editor-in-chief Oleh Katkov noted that Russia's plans for 2024 include 10,000 new S-8KL unguided missiles, of which 5,000 are to be transferred to Crimea.
Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Wednesday
15 January
12:07
Ukraine must be part of any decision about its future - EU top diplomat
11:50
Review
Russia in flames: Ukrainian forces launch largest strike on Russian territory. Serhiy Zgurets' column
11:28
OPINION
Guarantees of Ukraine's disintegration: key takeaways from Lavrov's press conference
11:09
EU shipyards repair Russian Arctic gas tankers despite sanctions - media
10:51
Ukraine reports 170 clashes at front, repels 70 Russian attacks in Pokrovsk sector
10:30
Exclusive
Conscription age in Ukraine may be lowered if partners boost military aid - MP Kniazhytskyi
10:12
Drones target distillery near military training ground in Russia's Tambov region
09:54
Russia's massive missile attack targets critical infrastructure in western Ukraine
09:35
Russia loses 1,580 soldiers, nearly 400 pieces of equipment in one day of war in Ukraine
2025, Tuesday
14 January
21:40
Exclusive
Trump to nullify International Criminal Court warrant by meeting with Putin - expert
21:25
Zelenskyy releases video showing interrogation of captured North Korean soldier
21:10
South Korea ready to take DPRK soldiers captured by Ukraine
20:52
OPINION
Biden took the “safe route”
20:30
NATO starts Baltic Sentry mission, Tusk announces increased presence
20:07
46% of Ukrainians prioritize NATO membership over EU accession – KIIS survey
19:46
Exclusive
“Breaking new ground”: Defense Express on Ukraine’s largest strike on Russian military targets
19:25
Updated
Ukrainian Air Force technicians report mass transfers to infantry; General Staff responds
19:06
Volker expects “decisive approach” in Trump’s Ukraine policy
18:45
Depletion of Russian air defense exposes rear regions to strikes
18:24
Ukrainian exports entered 16 new markets in 2024
17:59
Slovak opposition to call no-confidence vote against Fico government over shift to Russia
17:38
Russia’s military aviation: What happens to 1,100 aircraft not in combat over Ukraine?
17:13
Ukraine may cease to exist in 2025, negotiations should be with U.S., says Putin's aide. Ukraine responds
16:52
Military exercises in Gomel District, Belarus, pose no threat to Ukraine – SBGS
16:34
Ukraine sets up 36 working groups to prepare for EU membership negotiations
16:14
Russian "court" sentences seven Ukrainian POWs involved in Kursk operation
16:03
Updated
Ukraine launches massive strike on Russian military targets, up to 1,100 km deep
15:57
Russian agents exploit families of Ukrainian POWs for sabotage
15:37
Exclusive
'Trump is unpredictable but farsighted': VOA's Myroslava Gongadze on Greenland controversy
15:16
Russian oil tankers stalled as U.S. sanctions bite
14:52
Ukraine's largest long-range strike to date hits key Russian military and industrial sites
14:38
Ukraine exports almost $25 billion worth of goods to EU in 2024
14:17
OPINION
Mobilization of 18-year-olds: the West's excuses for its own failures
13:50
Exclusive
From Bryansk to Kazan: Ukraine targets Russian defense industry with precision strikes
13:31
OPINION
Biden in his last presidency days finishes off Russian economy
13:03
Review
Ukraine receives world's most advanced self-propelled gun from Germany: Column by Serhiy Zgurets
12:42
Exclusive
Challenges in Kursk region now are future challenges for Seoul – military expert Selezniov
12:23
OPINION
Fico, Szijjártó, and Orbán use "gas" statements to portray Ukraine as unreliable. Vitaly Portnikov column
11:53
Ukraine repels 77 Russian attacks near Pokrovsk, 166 clashes along frontline
11:36
Exclusive
All border settlements with Russia destroyed: Ukrainian border guard on Sumy situation
More news