Mail routes exploited to move banned goods
Russia has been quietly skirting EU sanctions by using a logistics hub in Berlin and exploiting the lighter checks applied to international mail, according to an investigation by German newspaper Bild. The report describes how sanctioned goods were sent to Moscow through a postal route that largely escaped scrutiny.
Test packages fitted with GPS trackers reportedly passed without issue through a logistics hall near Berlin Brandenburg Airport before being routed through Poland and Belarus on their way to Russia. Investigators say the shipments used labels from Uzbekistan’s state postal service, even though that operator is not authorised to work in Germany.
International mail typically faces fewer inspections than standard commercial exports, as postal items are processed quickly and in large volumes under simplified customs procedures. The operation is said to have been overseen by the former managing director of RusPost GmbH, the German arm of Russia’s state postal service, identified by Bild as Dimitri V. German customs searched the company’s Berlin offices in August 2024 on suspicion of sanctions violations, but the investigation did not result in charges.
Kyiv urges Europe to close loopholes
Ukraine’s presidential envoy for sanctions policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, said the findings were unsurprising. Speaking in Berlin, he argued that enforcement across Europe remains insufficient.
“Nobody is doing enough, if you look at the number of cases,” Vlasiuk said when asked whether Germany was doing enough to stop such practices. He noted that Ukraine routinely gathers intelligence on sanctions evasion and shares it with international partners, adding that these methods are well known in Kyiv.
Vlasiuk is currently visiting several European countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium, to press for tougher enforcement. At a press conference at the Ukrainian embassy, he outlined three priorities: stronger financial sanctions, blocking Western-made components from reaching Russia, and more decisive action against Russia’s shadow fleet. He said Western parts have been found in many of the more than 50,000 Shahed drone attacks carried out by Russia, while alternative payment methods such as cryptocurrencies are also helping to bypass restrictions.
Shadow fleet still moving oil
Russia’s shadow fleet has become a major focus of the sanctions debate. Moscow continues to move oil and other commodities using ageing, often poorly insured tankers that operate under shifting or unclear flags of convenience.
Despite EU sanctions on more than 600 vessels, around 70% are still active and transporting Russian oil, according to Vlasiuk. He said the EU should consider physical measures to stop them.
France took a rare step last week by intercepting and seizing the tanker Grinch in the western Mediterranean, saying it was suspected of sailing under a false flag and breaching sanctions.
On 26 January, Germany and 13 other EU countries issued a joint warning about ships operating in the Baltic and North Sea under multiple or false flags. They said such vessels would be treated as stateless unless they carry valid documents, maintain proper communication with authorities and comply with maritime safety rules. The statement signalled a tougher stance, though it did not spell out specific enforcement measures or penalties.
