Neutral countries are actually helping Russia in its military escalation
Countries that claim to be neutral in Russia's current war against Ukraine are actually acting as intermediaries and are actually helping to strengthen Russia's military-industrial complex. Oleg Oleksandrov, the general representative of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (FIS), made this cautionary statement during the international conference "Fair play" dedicated to increasing sanctions pressure on Moscow, the Ukrinform news agency reported. According to him, countries that declare neutrality usually grant permission to companies and firms that supply Russia with key components for the production of weapons and military equipment, thereby helping to maintain and increase the potential of the Russian military-industrial complex. Oleksandrov emphasized that Russian defense enterprises continue to develop and strengthen their capabilities, in particular by importing raw materials for the production of explosives, high-tech equipment and high-precision machine tools necessary for the production of weapons. It is important to note that many of these supplies occur through complex schemes and resale chains involving intermediary companies. “A company abroad sells products to a company inside Russia that is formally not related to the defense industry, and this company resells the goods to a military enterprise,” Oleksandrov explained. According to him, Ukrainian intelligence officers monitor more than 60 such companies operating in Russia and supplying it with critical components. Working with international partners, Ukrainian intelligence has managed not only to expose new logistical and financial schemes, but also to block Moscow’s attempts to purchase sanctioned goods. It is noted that a significant part of imported Russian products is not formally subject to traditional export restrictions, since these are not military equipment, but dual-use goods that can be used in both civilian and military sectors. That is why the Ukrainian side insists on the need to expand the list of controlled goods, in particular, to include all electronic components and equipment that can potentially be used in the production of weapons. In addition, the Foreign Intelligence Service emphasizes that it is important to strengthen the application of secondary sanctions - a mechanism that allows restricting access to international markets for companies and states that support Russian aggression. Ukraine insists that this particular tool should become one of the key ones for increasing economic and diplomatic pressure on Moscow. Just the day before, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on the introduction of new sanctions against 87 entities related to the Russian military-industrial complex, which is an important component in the complex of measures to deter the Kremlin's military machine. Thus, the Ukrainian authorities demonstrate their unwavering commitment to strengthening sanction mechanisms and combating the actual support of the Russian regime by foreign hands from neutral countries.