Three Tajik Migrants Fatally Shot in Russian Security Raid
The flow of Western automotive parts to fuel Russia’s war machine in Ukraine has been exposed in a recent investigation by Schemes and Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. Despite U.S. and EU sanctions aimed at cutting off supplies to the Russian military, a leading Norwegian automotive supplier, Kongsberg Automotive, has been found to have exported millions of dollars worth of truck parts to Russia through a Turkish intermediary.
The leaked records show that at least 126 shipments of Kongsberg Automotive parts were made to Russia from July 2022 to April 2024 by Hidirusta Otomotiv, a customer of the Norwegian company in Turkey. These parts ended up supporting Russia’s military efforts, including providing supplies to companies with ties to Russian defense firms.
The reliance on civilian trucks and vehicles has increased for the Russian military since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with reports indicating a surge in truck imports to sustain battlefield logistics despite Western sanctions. The use of civilian trucks not only helps in transportation but also in launching attack drones used in strikes on Ukraine.
Kongsberg Automotive has distanced itself from the transactions, emphasizing that it ceased direct sales to Russia in 2022 and expressing shock at the resale of its parts into Russia. The company stated that it is difficult to track products after sale and has terminated its relationship with Hidirusta Otomotiv, instructing all customers to stop dealing with the Turkish firm.
Legal experts have highlighted the importance of conducting due diligence to ensure compliance with sanctions regulations. Authorities in EU member states, like Norway’s Police Security Service, have the responsibility to investigate and potentially penalize companies that fail to prevent violations of sanctions.
The case has raised concerns about loopholes in sanctions enforcement, particularly in countries like Turkey, and the need for companies to exercise vigilance in preventing their products from reaching sanctioned entities. Ukrainian officials have expressed disappointment in the effectiveness of sanctions policies in the EU and called for stronger enforcement to prevent the flow of goods supporting Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
