Since 24 February 2022, Ukrainian society has witnessed numerous examples of the West’s cynical game of playing both sides. For instance, it was only in late 2024 that partners who had resolutely condemned Russian aggression for three years suddenly noticed the existence of Russia’s shadow fleet – which, despite sanctions, has been transporting Russian oil across the globe for years. Not just in plain sight, but on radar screens as well.
Meanwhile, Europe is purchasing metal from a Russian plant that also supplies metal to 22 facilities belonging to the Russian defence industrial base. Some of its shipments go to Denmark, Belgium and Italy, while others are used to produce missiles, drones, tanks and even nuclear weapons. The owner even has plants in Europe that continue to operate successfully today.
The mining and metals industry is Russia’s third-largest source of income after oil and gas. According to Eurostat, Russia has sold nearly €10bn worth of metallurgical products to EU countries during the three years of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Watch this video for more details.
Written and presented by: Mykhailo Tkach
Directed by: Andrii Ihnatenko
Director of photography: Yaroslav Bondarenko
Sound engineer: Dmytro Volkovynskyi
Subtitle translation: Anastasiia Yankina and Myroslava Zavadska
Subtitle editing: Teresa Pearce
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00:00 Start
03:43 Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant
07:37 The Russian oligarch who escaped sanctions
09:33 Russian oligarch Lisin's plant in Belgium
14:58 The second plant of oligarch Lisin
16:25 Deliveries from Russia to the Belgian plant
17:47 Where else in the EU do Lisin's plants operate
20:43 Production of weapons for attacks on Ukraine with the help of Lisin's NLMK
24:18 Poland's trade with Russia