Postal Loopholes Allow Banned Goods to Slip Through
A German investigation has revealed that Russia is circumventing EU sanctions by sending prohibited goods through a logistics hub near Berlin. Using international mail, which faces lighter scrutiny than regular exports, shipments of sanctioned items were able to move undetected to Moscow via Poland and Belarus. The operation reportedly used Uzbekistan postal labels, despite the service not being authorised to operate in Germany. The scheme is linked to Dimitri V., former head of RusPost GmbH, the German branch of Russia’s state postal service. Customs raided the company in August 2024, but no charges followed.
Ukraine Calls for Tighter Sanctions Enforcement
Ukraine’s presidential envoy for sanctions policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, said he was unsurprised by the revelations, warning that European enforcement is insufficient. Speaking from Berlin, he outlined three priorities: stricter financial sanctions, preventing Western components from reaching Russia, and cracking down on Russia’s shadow fleet. Vlasiuk noted that Western parts have been used in many of Russia’s more than 50,000 Shahed drone attacks, and alternative payment methods like cryptocurrencies make evasion easier. He emphasized that while sanctions have weakened Russia’s economy, they are not yet strong enough.
Shadow Fleet Continues to Evade Oversight
Russia’s shadow fleet, which transports oil and commodities using old, often underinsured tankers with changing or unclear flags of convenience, remains active despite EU sanctions. Around 70% of the more than 600 targeted ships continue operations. France recently seized the tanker Grinch, suspected of sailing under a false flag. On 26 January, Germany and 13 EU states warned that vessels in the Baltic and North Sea with multiple or false flags would be treated as stateless. Only ships with valid documentation and proper communication with authorities will be allowed to operate, though specific enforcement measures were not detailed.
