Arms trade loopholes: how Russia still gets Western weapons amid sanctions

An investigation by The Insider has revealed how thousands of sniper rifles and millions of rounds of ammunition from the U.S. and EU make their way into Russia, bypassing sanctions. These weapons are routed through intermediary countries like Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, exploiting regulatory loopholes and customs union agreements.

Western rifles in use by Russian snipers  

Despite a decade-long arms embargo, Russian snipers at a competition in Crimea in 2024 prominently used American and European weapons, such as the Desert Tech SRS and Accuracy International rifles. Russian-made rifles were less favored, with participants overwhelmingly preferring imported ammunition like Hornady over domestic brands.

Loopholes and indirect channels  

Sanctions imposed in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea included exceptions for pre-existing contracts and lacked strict controls on exports to Customs Union countries. This has enabled significant arms shipments to Russia via neighboring states. For instance, Kyrgyz distributors facilitated the import of Proof Research rifles into Russia under shared Eurasian Economic Union certifications.

Profitable arms trade  

Individuals like Moscow resident Sergey Kirichenko have capitalized on the arms trade. He sells American rifles at exorbitant markups, with models priced at $3,000 in the U.S. being sold for $17,000 in Moscow. Dealers in neighboring countries and small U.S. firms, such as ABF in Colorado, play roles in these transactions, supplying weapons indirectly to Russian clients.

The role of European companies  

European manufacturers have continued supplying Russia, often through intermediaries. Luxembourg-based Beretta and its Russian partner were implicated in direct violations of U.S. and EU sanctions, exporting firearms and ammunition. German companies like Hans Wrage also redirected shipments to Kazakhstan, which then flowed into Russia.

Rising demand for foreign weapons  

Russia's domestic arms industry struggles to meet military needs. While newer Russian sniper rifles like the Chukavin (SVCh) face criticism for poor performance, imported rifles dominate competitions and battlefield use. The demand has driven up prices for both smuggled foreign arms and high-end domestic models like ORSIS and Lobaev Arms.

Sanctions enforcement remains weak  

Despite evidence of violations, European governments and manufacturers have largely avoided significant penalties. For example, Beretta’s operations with Russian partners continue unabated, and trade through Turkey and Central Asia has expanded. The scale of indirect exports highlights the inefficiency of existing sanctions and regulatory oversight.

This circumvention of sanctions highlights the systemic loopholes in international regulations, exploited by both state and private entities. As long as intermediary countries facilitate these transactions and enforcement remains inconsistent, the flow of Western arms and ammunition into Russia is unlikely to cease. This dynamic underscores the broader challenges in implementing effective sanctions and controlling global arms trade amidst geopolitical conflicts.