Smuggling through postal channels
An investigation by German media has revealed that Russia is bypassing EU sanctions by sending banned goods through a logistics hub in Berlin, exploiting international mail systems that face lighter inspection. Test shipments fitted with GPS trackers reportedly passed through a warehouse near Berlin Brandenburg Airport and were then routed via Poland and Belarus to Moscow without interference.
The shipments allegedly used shipping labels from Uzbekistan’s state postal service, despite Germany not authorising the service to operate in the country. International mail faces fewer checks than commercial exports because it moves quickly in large volumes under simplified customs procedures. The operation is reportedly run by Dimitri V., the former head of RusPost GmbH, the German branch of Russia’s state postal service Pochta Rossii. Customs searches of the Berlin offices in August 2024 produced no charges.
Ukraine calls for tougher enforcement
Ukraine’s presidential envoy for sanctions policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, said he was not surprised by the findings. Speaking in Berlin, he said European enforcement remains insufficient. “Nobody is doing enough, if you look at the number of cases,” he said.
Vlasiuk is traveling across Europe, including the Netherlands and Belgium, to push for stricter sanctions enforcement. He outlined three key priorities: tightening financial sanctions, preventing Western components from reaching Russia, and cracking down on Russia’s shadow fleet. He noted that many of the more than 50,000 Shahed drone attacks have used Western components, and that alternative payment methods like cryptocurrencies make it easier to skirt existing bans.
Shadow fleet still active
Russia’s shadow fleet continues to evade sanctions, using ageing, poorly insured tankers under changing or unclear flags of convenience. Despite EU sanctions on more than 600 vessels, around 70% remain active transporting Russian oil. France recently seized the tanker Grinch in the western Mediterranean, citing a suspected false flag.
On 26 January, Germany and 13 other EU countries warned that ships operating in the Baltic and North Sea under false or multiple flags would be treated as stateless. Only vessels with valid documents, proper communication with authorities, and compliance with maritime safety laws will be allowed to sail. The statement did not, however, specify enforcement measures or penalties for violations.
