KYIV — Ukrainian officials and civil-society experts are intensifying work to identify foreign companies and supply chains that continue to provide components used by Russia’s defense-industrial complex, according to an October 1 meeting led by Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the Ukrainian President’s sanctions policy commissioner.
The meeting brought together organizations involved in sanctions research and advocacy, including the Economic Security Council of Ukraine, Razom We Stand, DiXi Group, StateWatch, B4U, NAKO, Strategy XXI, the Institute of Legislative Ideas, the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies and other groups.
Components used in Russian weapons
Participants discussed companies that enable Russia to obtain components needed for weapons production and aerial attacks against Ukraine.
Roman Steblivskyi of the Economic Security Council of Ukraine said his organization is preparing a standard questionnaire for companies to help identify sanctions and supply-chain risks. He also said researchers had already worked with private companies in cases where supply chains were disrupted.
The Presidential Office did not publish a complete list of companies discussed at the meeting. UkraineView therefore does not identify individual companies as sanctions violators unless they are named in an official sanctions decision or supported by separately documented evidence.
Shadow fleet and Russian oil
The meeting also examined Russia’s so-called shadow fleet and the changing use of vessel flags in Baltic Sea oil transport. The Presidential Office cited monitoring data from the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies indicating that Russian reflagging practices are changing as countries restrict sanctioned vessels.
Participants also discussed the European Union’s efforts to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels. According to the official Ukrainian account of the meeting, experts argued that restrictions on Russian oil still require additional policy work beyond measures already adopted for gas.
A7 financial platform
Another issue was Russia’s A7 financial platform. Ukrainian sanctions experts view the platform as a mechanism that may be used to facilitate cross-border payments outside established Western financial channels and reduce the effect of sanctions.
State and civil society coordination
Vlasiuk said Ukrainian authorities regularly use analytical work produced by civil-society organizations when developing sanctions proposals. Participants agreed to continue cooperation on defense-industry supply chains, the energy sector, maritime transport and financial sanctions.