How banned goods quietly reach Moscow
Russia has been using a logistics setup in Berlin to sidestep European Union sanctions, quietly sending restricted goods to Moscow through international mail channels that face lighter oversight, according to an investigation by German newspaper Bild.
Test shipments fitted with GPS trackers and filled with sanctioned items reportedly passed through a logistics warehouse near Berlin Brandenburg Airport without interference. From there, the parcels were forwarded through Poland and Belarus before reaching Russia.
The investigation found that the operation relied on shipping labels from Uzbekistan’s state postal service, despite the fact that Germany’s Federal Network Agency has not authorised that service to operate in the country. Because international mail is processed quickly and in huge volumes, it is subject to fewer customs and export checks than standard commercial shipments.
The system is said to be run by the former managing director of RusPost GmbH, the German arm of Russia’s state postal service, identified by Bild as Dimitri V. German customs searched the company’s Berlin offices in August 2024 on suspicion of sanctions violations, but the investigation did not lead to formal charges.
Kyiv urges Europe to close the gaps
Ukraine’s presidential envoy for sanctions policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, said the findings did not surprise him. Speaking to Euronews in Berlin, he argued that enforcement efforts across Europe remain insufficient.
“Nobody is doing enough, if you look at the number of cases,” Vlasiuk said when asked whether Germany was doing enough to prevent such loopholes. He added that Ukraine routinely tracks these schemes and shares information with international partners, noting that the basic mechanics of sanctions evasion are well understood in Kyiv.
Vlasiuk is currently visiting several European countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium, to push for tougher enforcement. At a press conference at the Ukrainian embassy, he highlighted three key priorities: stricter financial sanctions, blocking Western components from reaching Russia, and stronger action against Russia’s shadow fleet.
He said Western-made parts have been found in many of the more than 50,000 Shahed drone attacks launched by Russia. Alternative payment methods, including cryptocurrencies, also make it easier to bypass existing restrictions, he warned. While Russia’s economy is under pressure, Vlasiuk said the impact of sanctions still falls short of what is needed.
Shadow fleet keeps oil flowing
Russia’s shadow fleet remains a major concern for sanctions enforcers. Moscow continues to move oil and other commodities using ageing tankers that are often poorly insured and registered under shifting or unclear flags of convenience.
Despite EU sanctions on more than 600 vessels, around 70% are still active and transporting Russian oil, according to Vlasiuk. He said the bloc should consider physical measures to stop these ships from operating.
France took a step in that direction last week by intercepting and seizing the tanker Grinch in the western Mediterranean, citing suspicions that it was sailing under a false flag and violating sanctions.
On 26 January, Germany and 13 other EU countries issued a joint warning about ships operating in the Baltic and North Sea under multiple or false flags. They announced that such vessels would be treated as stateless in future unless they carry valid documents, communicate properly with authorities and comply with safety and maritime laws.
The statement signalled a tougher stance, but stopped short of detailing how the rules would be enforced or what penalties would apply for non-compliance.
