Investigation: European companies keep the motors of Russia’s war machine running

(Lucas Tonks, Mykola Khodyeyev – The Kyiv Independent) Since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has sought supplies of motor oil additives and lubricants from third countries to maintain its military-industrial capacity and keep vehicles and heavy machinery running. Russian private companies continue to utilize European logistics chains to secure a steady supply of essential chemicals and components, including large volumes of glycerin routed through EU-linked intermediaries. The Kyiv Independent has identified a Russian petrochemical manufacturer with close ties to the military that continues to operate in Latvia and Germany, using entities and individuals sanctioned by Ukraine to help sustain imports of lubricants and glycerin into Russia. The company exploits loopholes in EU sanctions to keep dual-use chemicals flowing into Russia, with raw glycerin still largely unrestricted despite its potential use in propellants and explosives. – Investigation: European companies keep the motors of Russia’s war machine running