A new report claims that Chinese nationals are trying to smuggle military equipment, such as body armor and tactical gear, out of Russia as Russia’s war with Ukraine continues.
Izvestia, a Russian state-controlled media outlet, cited anonymous sources in a report on Monday regarding an increased number of attempts by Chinese nationals to smuggle military equipment, such as tactical gear and body armor, and dual-use goods out of Russia. The outlet reported that the sources indicated Chinese nationals often use international postal services to conduct the smuggling operations.
Izvestia reported that Russian customs authorities and law enforcement officials have indicated that Chinese nationals have smuggled military uniforms, bulletproof vests, tactical backpacks, and other military equipment that are studied, replicated by using cheap materials, and sold in Russia, Ukraine, and other countries.
According to The Kyiv Independent, the report of Chinese nationals smuggling military equipment out of Russia comes as China has been accused of increased involvement in the war between Russia and Ukraine. The outlet noted that despite Chinese officials denying any supply of weapons to Russia, China has supplied many dual-use goods to Russia throughout the war in Ukraine.
Reuters reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused China last week of supplying weapons to Russia.
“We finally have information that China is supplying weapons to the Russian Federation,” Zelensky said. “We believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of some weapons on the territory of Russia.”
READ MORE: Videos: 150+ Chinese citizens fighting for Russia in Ukraine: Report
According to Izvestia, the efforts of Chinese citizens smuggling Russian military equipment out of the country have increased since 2022. An anonymous source with knowledge of the market for military gear told the Russian news outlet that the demand for counterfeit military equipment is high due to various loopholes with international shipping and differences in prices.
Izvestia also reported that some of the counterfeit Russian military equipment has been found on the battlefield in Ukraine. A source told the outlet, “Counterfeit versions of Russian tactical equipment are regularly seen on fallen Ukrainian soldiers in the combat zone.”
Ruslan Shapiev, CEO of RUSARM, a defense contractor, told Izvestia that some of the recent Chinese smuggling incidents could be connected to foreign intelligence services or industrial espionage.
According to the Russian news outlet, Russian law enforcement officials arrested a Chinese national in Moscow earlier this month. Izvestia reported that the Chinese national was accused of smuggling two tactical vests through the mail.
According to Izvestia, an investigation into the incident led to the discovery of multiple other shipments of Russian military equipment to China, including body armor, combat backpacks, and Ratnik transport vests.
