Postal loopholes let banned goods slip through
Russian shipments of sanctioned goods are reportedly bypassing EU restrictions using a logistics hub near Berlin and international mail channels with lighter inspection, according to Bild. Test packages with GPS trackers passed through a warehouse near Berlin Brandenburg Airport and then traveled through Poland and Belarus to Moscow without being stopped.
The operation allegedly uses Uzbekistan postal labels, though Germany does not authorize that service to operate domestically. International mail faces simpler customs checks than standard exports, allowing high-volume shipments to move quickly. The system is believed to be run by Dimitri V., former managing director of RusPost GmbH, Germany’s branch of Russia’s state postal service. Customs raided the company’s Berlin offices in August 2024, but the investigation produced no results.
Ukraine pushes for stricter enforcement
Ukraine’s sanctions envoy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, said he was not surprised by the findings and criticized Europe for failing to close these loopholes. “Nobody is doing enough, if you look at the number of cases,” he said in Berlin. Ukraine tracks such activities and shares intelligence with international partners.
Vlasiuk is touring European countries including the Netherlands and Belgium to advocate for tougher sanctions enforcement. At a press conference, he outlined three priorities: stricter financial sanctions, blocking Western components from reaching Russia, and stronger action against Russia’s shadow fleet. He noted that many of Russia’s 50,000-plus Shahed drone attacks involved Western components, and that alternative payment methods like cryptocurrencies make evasion easier.
Shadow fleet continues to flout sanctions
Russia’s shadow fleet remains central to sanctions evasion, using old, underinsured tankers registered under shifting or unclear flags of convenience. Despite EU sanctions on over 600 ships, about 70% are still active, according to Vlasiuk.
France recently seized the tanker Grinch in the western Mediterranean, citing a false-flag violation. On 26 January, Germany and 13 other EU countries issued a joint warning that ships operating under multiple or false flags in the Baltic and North Sea will be treated as stateless unless they carry valid documents, communicate properly with authorities, and comply with safety and maritime laws. The statement did not specify enforcement measures or penalties for violations.
